ISLAMABAD: Skills development is the most effective tool to help the country progress and prosper, Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood said on Monday.

“Skills development is at the top of the current government’s agenda and we are focused on taking special measures to mobilise our youth and provide them with a conducive learning environment so that they are in a better position to explore their abilities and skills,” he said at the launch of the Training of Master Trainers Programme.

Teaching pedagogy and creating an environment conducive to training is imperative for better learning outcomes, he said, adding: “It is quite unfortunate that in the past our education system was not adequately linked with employability. If we want to move forward as a nation it is essential to promote public-private partnership and to work in close collaboration with industry and provincial governments to become a catalyst for vocational training.”

Mr Mahmood said the government is focused on raising the literacy level, which currently stands at 58pc.

National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) Chairman Syed Javed Hussain said the commission is determined to meet challenges in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector and committed to substantially improving the quality of training delivery to meet the local and international demand for a skilled workforce.

Master trainers training programme launched

Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson, European Union Ambassador Jean Francois-Cautain, German Ambassador Martin Kobler and Norwegian Ambassador Kjell-Gunnar Eriksen also spoke at the ceremony.

They said trained trainers would help improve the quality of training, giving learners a better perspective on training in various trades. They extended their full support and cooperation to ensure skills development in Pakistan.

Under the training programme, a national pool of master trainers in various trades will be trained and certified according to the globally recognised International Training and Assessment Courses by the Melbourne Polytechnic Institute and the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Pakistan, in collaboration with NAVTTC and the TVET Sector Support Programme.

The course structure has been designed by the Australian government’s Department of Education and Training according to identified international TVET sector training needs and requirements. It is also in line with international best practices for competency-based training.

A total of 120 master trainers will be certified as per the Australian Competency Based Training & Assessment framework.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2019