ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Baligh-ur-Rehman informed the National Assembly here Thursday that the government would establish National University for Skill Development (NUSD) in Islamabad to enhance availability of vocational training opportunities in the country.
He said the government would establish National University for Skill Development (NUSD) at Federal Capital besides setting up one such facility in each province.
The minister said the government was spending more investment on enhancing vocational trainings and capacity building of uneducated youth.
He said that total technical education was only one percent of total population in Pakistan compared to 16 percent in developed countries and 30 percent in Germany.
He said after 18th constitutional amendment, the education subject has been devolved to the provinces. However, this government has evolved National Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy 2015 in consultation with the provinces, industry and stakeholders which emphasized on establishment of modern and state of the art TVET institutes.
He said for the first time “Vocational Secondary School” has been setup through National Education Foundation (NEF). Wherein, Technical and Vocational Education will be incorporated along with the general education to enable passouts to join job market directly.
Under this initiative, he said the target was “out of school children”.
This model will be replicated in federal areas for further adoption by provinces.
The minister informed that establishment of five world class and state-of-the-art Centers of Excellence in each provincial headquarters under TVET Reform Support Program (through NAVTTC) could be offering demand driven training in marketable trades in collaboration with the industry.
He said that new initiatives include up-gradation of National Training Bureau into Center of Excellence (through NAVTTC). This center will be a model institution to provide high quality TVET graduates to local and international job market.
Replying to a question, he said that Pakistanis sent abroad by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on scholarships to get modern education in the latest field of knowledge are legally bound to come back as they undertake a bond to return and serve Pakistan with HEC before leaving, submit collateral (property documents) and two guarantors- to come back and serve Pakistan.