KARACHI, Aug 19: On the directive of Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy Dr Hamida Khuhro, a plan has been prepared to convert nine monotechnic institutes into poly trade vocational institutes. In this respect, Director Technical Education Sindh Raja Ghulam Hussain presented a plan to Sindh Minister Education Hamida Khuhro and Secretary Education Syed Ghulam Ali Shah Pasha and told them that the plan would help to overcome the dropout rate of children of primary schools.

He further said that the project would help reduce poverty and increase the employment in Sindh. Thus the socio-economic change especially in the rural and down trodden areas could be ensured.

The project, estimated to cost Rs17.50 million, is part of revamping and reorganization of technical and vocational education to provide maximum possible opportunities to the youths in private job market. He said that the plan would support poverty alleviation and help increase employment in Sindh.

The nine institutes included in this project are Government Monotechnic Institute, New Karachi; GMI Orangi Town, Sector-11 1/2; GMI Kohsar Latifabad, Hyderabad; GMI Peerabad, Hyderabad; GMI Matiari; GMI Mehar, Dadu; GMI Ghotki; GMI Shikarpur; and GMI Ghariyasin.

Under the plan, each poly trade vocational institutes would introduce teaching of minimum five locally-demanded trades.

The trades to be introduced are: television servicing, radio and tape recorder repairing, electrical wiring and repair of household appliances, computer hardware and software, woodworking, sanitary works, welding (gas and electric), servicing and minor repair of tractors, auto mechanic (motorcycle), refrigeration and air conditioning, poultry farming, fish farming, dress-making fashion designing, beautician and food preservation.

The enrolment capacity of each institute will be 50 students per class.

The minister was informed that in these institutes all the subjects of general education from Class VI to X would be offered to the students in addition to these trades. After completion of poly trade courses, students will be able to find jobs in local market or they could start their own shop along with continuation of education on self-sustainable basis.

Ghulam Hussain said that the teaching staff would be paid Rs5,000 on contract basis while students would be given Rs300 per month as stipend and another Rs500 for uniform and Rs200 for course books annually.

The minister said that education was loosing attraction for young people because the government could not provide jobs to a large population as it used to do in the past. She said technical education would be made available to the youngsters so that they could get maximum possible number of jobs. She asked the authorities concerned to prepare a plan for up gradation of rest of the technical institutes in the province. –APP/PPI