The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) is all set to trigger youth skills training in the province as international donors-funded TVET Sector Support Programme (SSP) has handed over a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence to the KPK Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (KP TEVTA) established in Hayatabad, Peshawar.
The handing-over ceremony was held in Hayatabad were Advisor to Chief Minister KPK Abdul Karim Khan was the chief guest. First Secretary of the EU Delegation to Pakistan, Mr. Sven Ruesch; Cluster Coordinator for Training, Sustainable Growth and Decent Employment Opportunities, GIZ-Pakistan Mr. Olaf Handloegten; Managing Director KP TEVTA Engr. Sajjad Ali Shah and representative from the Embassy of Germany Ms. Antonia Peters attended the event.
According to details, as many as five centers of excellence (CoEs) have been planned which is a collaborative initiative of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the TVET SSP, which is funded by the European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Norwegian Embassy.
These five CoEs are being established through up-gradation in Islamabad, Lahore, Kotri, and Hub cities. They will provide a cascading model of teachers’ training, upscaling of skills for trainees, modern lab facilities, career counseling, and job placement services under one roof.
The CoE Peshawar, which is the first one of these CoEs to be completed and launched, will foster excellence in training delivery for thousands of youth and TVET practitioners as well as will assist in the building up of a competent workforce with better job opportunities.
In his opening remarks, Olaf Handloegten from GIZ Pakistan said it is a moment of pride for them to see the CoE in Peshawar being handed over to the KPK government, which will set an example for all the other regions in Pakistan imparting excellent training to teachers and trainees.
Speaking about the TVET SSP at the ceremony, MD KP-TVETA Engr. Sajjad Ali Shah said that programs like TVET SSP are essential to open opportunities for youth to compete in the national and international labor markets. The provincial TEVTAs in close collaboration with the TVET SSP are equipping a large number of young people with competency-based pieces of training and preparing them for employment opportunities for skilled workers.
Antonia Peters from German Embassy said, she sees great potential in not only relying on jobs but also entrepreneurship models and SME development for people to benefit from economic opportunities especially in areas such as KPK. She hoped that with the initiation of activities at the Hayatabad CoE, young men and women can come forward and learn innovative skills.
On the occasion, Sven Ruesch from EU Delegation to Pakistan appreciated all stakeholders involved in finalizing this Hayatabad CoE with commitment. “We hope that the KP TEVTA management will take advantage of the upgraded training facilities for both TVET teachers and trainees and devise mechanisms to ensure this CoE lives up to its full potential. The EU calls upon the government and the private sector to ensure the sustainability of our joint efforts and achievements in this regard,” he said.
While addressing the ceremony, Advisor to KPK Chief Minister Abdul Karim Khan appreciated the establishment of the Hayatabad center of excellence. He termed this extraordinary training facility as a gift to the KPK government from European Union, Germany and Norway and assured that the provincial government will ensure its smooth functioning.
