LAHORE, March 29, 2022: Stakeholders at a skills development forum have stressed the need for further promoting the best technical and vocational education and training (TVET) practices in the country and sensitizing the youth about the significance of TVET in order to meet the needs of international job market.
These views were expressed during the annual meeting of Punjab Skills Advisory Forum (PSAF) organized in collaboration with the donors-funded TVET Sector Support Programme (TVET SSP) here on Tuesday.
The PSAF was constituted in 2017 by the Industries, Commerce, Investment, and Skills Development Department Punjab with the support of the TVET SSP which is funded by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Norwegian Embassy. The PSAF was established with the goal of bridging the gap between stakeholders participating in TVET through advocacy and awareness, providing strategic guidance for TVET programme implementation, discussing broad strategic and policy issues, and overseeing the progress of TVET sector reforms in Punjab.
Director General Punjab Skills Development Authority (PSDA) Moazzam Iqbal Sipra was the chief guest of the PSAF meeting while other attendees included Head of TVET SSP Ms. Iris Cordelia Rotzoll, representatives of business and industry associations, leading employers from major economic sectors, allied departments, training providers (TEVTA, PVTC, PSDF, SMEDA, TUSDEC), NAVTTC regional office Punjab, qualifications awarding bodies (PBTE, TTB, PVTC) and international donors/technical agencies working in Punjab (GIZ, JICA etc).
The PSDA Director General said, “We are here to recognize and promote the best TVET practices and create awareness about the significance of TVET to produce a skilled force in the country.”
He further remarked that this forum is the pathway for the Punjab youth to achieve a successful life ahead by gaining the excellent and latest technical and vocational training to compete in the world job market.
“It is the best forum where the policies regarding TVET reforms, green skills, gender mainstreaming, reintegration of returnees, and digitalization are discussed, and strategies are made while having all stakeholders at the same place to achieve the height of the success of these reforms,” the minister maintained.
In her remarks, Iris Cordelia Rotzoll said that she sees great potential in this forum where achievements of TVET sector in Punjab are shared on yearly basis and our people can take the best benefit from the opportunities being discussed in the meeting and implemented in the TVET sector.
She hoped better results of the policies being designed for the implementation of these reforms and building a proper channel for public and private partnership.
The meeting also provided a platform to gather ideas, inputs, and expectations on the key topics in the TVET sector like reintegration of returnees, green and digital skills.
