LAHORE, May 22: The Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) has resolved to revamp the existing system for better management of mega technical and vocational educational institutions set-up in the province besides improving the quality of pass outs.
This was stated by TEVTA chairman Sikandar M Khan while speaking at a news conference at his office on Wednesday. He said the authority was established after the promulgation of the TEVTA Ordinance in July, 1999, but it was granted real autonomy just on March 20 this year.
Mr Khan said the TEVTA had 402 institutions in its fold to impart technical, vocational and commerce education to around 75,500 students. The TEVTA has a staff strength of 13,000 employees, he said.
Soon after assuming the autonomy, he said the TEVTA had constituted 13 autonomous boards of management in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Sargodha, Narowal, Gujrat, Khushab, Mandi Bahauddin and Muzaffargarh. The boards would be responsible for all the administrative matters of the institutes concerned. He claimed that 10 more boards of management had been identified and would soon be notified.
He said the TEVTA was also restructuring and reorganizing institutions in Lahore district to enhance the number of courses and students capacity. Currently, he said, there were 27 institutions imparting education and training in 69 courses with the capacity of 8,765 students. Out of 36 institutions, he said, eight institutions were imparting technical education, five commerce education and 14 institutions were offering vocational training. After making changes, he said, the courses on offer would be increased to 158 disciplines, trades and courses with the enhanced capacity of 16,724 students. He said that it had also been decided that on-job training would be made part of studies for all students. He said the TEVTA would also emphasis on the placement of pass outs.
Explaining the key objectives of TEVTA, he said the authority would work to promote and provide demand driven technical education and vocational training in the province. It would establish participative relationship with various sectors of economy like agriculture, industry, service and commerce.
He said the authority would also assess the manpower training needs in the context of domestic and global demand besides re-engineering and consolidating the existing technical education and vocational training system under one management structure. He said the authority would also regulate and develop standards of technical education and vocational training including internationally recognized curricula, examination and certification system. He said a Board of Examinations and Certification would also be established to conduct examinations in an independent and transparent manner.
Answering a question, Mr Khan said the TEVTA planned to change the field administration to district units under the administrative control of local boards comprising of local potential employers, entrepreneurs and professionals for better autonomy and efficiency.
He said the TEVTA would also introduce a monitoring and audit system to evaluate both academic and financial excellence. He said a centralized management information system would also be established to ensure the availability of reliable information for management decisions.
Answering a question about improving the skill and knowledge of students, Mr Khan said the authority was evaluating training needs in each sector and preparing revised curricula and training manuals and textbooks to address needs. He said the authority would organize centralized teacher training in line with the curricula at three locations in the province. He said modernize training equipment was being acquired to establish shops and labs. He said the authority was also working to establish international linkages for curriculum development, exchange programme for students and teachers and equivalency of certification.