Autonomous body set up for overseeing technical education, vocational training: ordinance promulgated

The government on Friday promulgated National Vocational and Technical Education Ordinance, 2008 (Ordinance No VII of 2008) by establishing an autonomous organisation for regulation, co-ordination and policy direction for technical education and vocational training in the country.
President Asif Ali Zardari, in exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 89 of the Constitution promulgated the Ordinance to provide ample legal backing to the organisation.
The Ordinance established a commission to be called the National Vocational and Technical Education Commission (Navtec) having its headquarters in Islamabad and regional offices in the country. The commission has been empowered to take policy decisions independently and give approval to policies, plans, programmes up to a ceiling of Rs 40 million.
The commission would comprise of Chairman Navtec and members that include Secretary Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Secretary Ministry of Finance, Secretary Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Secretary Ministry of Education and Secretary of the concerned provincial department till such time that provincial offices are established in the province.
Some of the salient functions of the commission shall be to devise and review policies and evolve strategy relating to human resource development with a focus on technical education, vocational training and employment in general. It would prepare national training plans, programmes and projects in coordination with stakeholders for the expansion of technical education and vocational training infrastructure in the country.
It would regulate while prescribing conditions under which institutions in the public and private sector may be established and operated.
The commission would be empowered to take measures, including the allocation of funds for establishment of scholarships and stipends for students and training of teachers abroad and within the country. It would have the powers to establish an endowment fund for technical education and vocational training with contributions from government as well as non-governmental resources.
It would be able to allocate funds for infrastructure development, training of faculty as an incentive to improve quality of vocational and technical education. Regulation of quality for implementation of skill standards, syllabi, trade testing and certification of technical and vocational training institutions would also be under the control of the commission.
The commission shall submit an annual report to the federal government in respect of its activities or as and when required by the government. In addition, it will maintain its accounts of receipts and expenditures in such a manner as will be prescribed by the Controller General of Accounts, said the Ordinance.
Every employee of the commission and every person acting or purporting to act under this Ordinance and the rules and regulations made thereunder shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860).