'PVTC to utilise Zakat funds for poverty alleviation'

The Government of Punjab has introduced the revolutionary idea of utilisation of Zakat funds for poverty alleviation by providing training in demand driven skills to deserving youth. This was stated by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Punjab Vocation Training Center (PVTC), M. Saeed Khan, in an interview here on Friday.
According to him, development of effective Technical & Vocational Training System was at the heart of education reforms efforts of federal and provincial governments, which were endeavouring to alleviate poverty by providing opportunities to all young people through equitable access to appropriate learning and skill development programmes.
The focus of these programmes was to prepare learners for the world of work, by setting up Vocational Training Institutes where facilities of qualified technical staff were available, curriculum were in line with requirement of the labour market and disadvantaged groups enjoy special support to encourage their enrolment.
The objective was to develop vocationally qualified citizens, who had a good chance to find or create employment and who will become human resource pillars of the economy and the neighbouring communities.
Saeed Khan further said that the government was also conscious of the fact that despite having distributed billions of rupees as allowances to Mustahqeen-e-Zakat, there was no reduction in poverty and instead of poverty alleviation, number of Mustahqeen-e-Zakat was increasing.
In this backdrop, the government had introduced the idea of utilisation of zakat fund for poverty alleviation by providing training in demand driven skills to Mustahqeen. It was the consensus opinion of all concerned that Zakat funds could be better utilised by providing vocational skills to Mustahqeen-e-Zakat rather than keeping them dependent on allowances.
The basic concept was to shift Mustahqeen from dolling out to payroll by providing demand driven skills for their permanent rehabilitation.
He said the mission of PVTC was to alleviate poverty with Zakat funds by imparting demand driven skill training to Mustahqeen-e-Zakat at their doorsteps, involving private sector to enhance employability.
The PVTC was establishing at least two VTIs in each tehsil to impart intensive vocational training in employable skills to Mustahqeen as per local demand for their permanent rehabilitation and also providing on job training as part of the curriculum, he added.
The CEO dilating on PVTC role said that in order to implement purposeful training programme, it was considered imperative that private sector was actively involved.
For this purpose independent Board of Managements (BoMs) were formed to help establish VTIs. These BoMs had been sufficiently empowered to select relevant trades, effectively manage the institutions, monitor the quality of training, facilitate on job training and placement of pass outs. PVTC was proud to have more than 230 members of various BoMs, who represent various walks of life (that was, industry, business, former bureaucrats, professionals, educationists, agriculturists) and devote their time and efforts for day to day management of VTIs.
According to him, establishment of VTIs was a unique concept as local Boards of Management, that makes productive utilisation of zakat funds with minimum burden on the government exchequer and utilisation of available unutilised official buildings managed these VTIs.
It was also unique because the Mustahqeens in addition to their training also receive a stipend of Rs 500/- during training and Rs 5,000/- after the training for the purchase of tools, equipments or self-employment.
An important feature of this training programme was that at the end of training each trainee was given On Job Training (OJT). VTIs facilitate the trainees to find gainful employment through a placement officer and the efforts of the members of local BoM.
He further said that training programmes were executed at each VTI where every effort was made to provide a quality learning environment with adequate facilities, learning resources and positive reinforcement from the teachers.
A system of internal academic audit ensures that all aspects of quality were being implemented. Objective evaluation of trainees was done at the end of training program and certificates were issued.
Finally, to complete the training cycle feedback was received from the end- users; that was, employers, to rectify any deficiencies and suggest improvements in the training programme, he added. Quality assurance also includes the development of relevant curricula easily understood by teachers and in line with the requirements of labour market.
Standard formats for curriculum had been developed for each trade, based on need assessment, which includes training schedule, trainee/trainer manuals, lesson plan, list of the equipments and evaluation system. So far 38 curricula of different trades had been developed and were in use at various VTIs. Each trainee was provided with a trainee manual. Curricula were constantly revised and updated as per the market needs, he added.