UMERKOT, Sept 5 The Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) has failed to achieve its goals in Umerkot and Mirpurkhas districts.

It was established in 2007 to streamline technical education and vocational training in the province with a qualitative workforce to meet domestic and international labour needs.

Some time ago, the authority took over the administrative control of technical and vocational training institutes, schools and centres working under Education and Literacy, Labour and Manpower and Social Welfare departments and district governments to generate employment opportunities.

But contrary to its vision and list of objectives, no progress in this regard has so far been witnessed in both districts.

In its prospectus released, the authority has conceded that in 2001, with the introduction of schemes of devolution of powers, most of the TEVT institutions were devolved to district governments and city district governments. It was due to lack of focus and effective controls under the district governments that the TEVT institutions could not align to the federal and provincial policy framework.

During that period, no major initiatives were taken for capacity building, infrastructure development and improvements of equipment as well as technologies of TEVT institutions.

When this correspondent visited Mono technical college Umerkot, College of Education and Commercial Practices, vocational centres and Technical Training Centre Umerkot, it was revealed that no major initiatives have been taken for capacity building, infrastructure development and improvements of equipment as well as technologies.

Various posts of teaching staff in mono technical college of Umerkot, including the post of head of the department, principal BPS-18, two posts of senior instructors civil BPS-17, two posts of instructors civil BPS-17, one post of computer instructor BPS-17, are lying vacant.

The College of Education and Commercial Practices does not have its building. There are two posts of instructor BPS-18, four posts of junior instructor BPS-14, two posts of instructor BPS-17, in vocational sector four posts are lying vacant.