Following the successful models of transformation of Technical Education and Vocational Training in Asia Pacific Region, the government of Sindh has established STEVTA to effectively manage and regulate technical education and vocational training institutions viz. Government Colleges of Technology, Polytechnic/Monotechnic Institutes, Vocational Schools/ Institutes, Technical/ Vocational Training Centres and Commercial Training Institutes in the province of Sindh.
These institutions target relatively poor segment of society who cannot afford higher education in engineering and medical universities and colleges of business education. They also attract a lot of drop outs of general education stream to impart them vocational training for skill based income generation. Besides, the Federal government and Sindh province, the multilateral donors are promoting technical education & vocational training as a means to eradicate poverty and divert the youth from unhealthy activities.
The Board of Sindh Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) was notified on 18th August, 2008. The effective management of the institutes was transferred to this Authority on 24th April, 2009. The Authority is headed by Managing Director, who is an officer of Central Superior Services (CSS), and has graduated from Colombia University, New York, USA.
The Authority has completed its first year in which it has not only addressed the basic issues for good governance, but initiated short-term interventions for improved quality of education and training in these institutions. Although, the challenges ahead of the Authority are formidable, yet the Authority has sufficient initiatives to highlight its performance and create awareness on these issues through better media coverage. Some of the initiatives of the Authority are listed below:
-- Introduction of transparent, uniform and district-based centralised admission policy;
-- Short-term/stipend based Skill Development Training Program for 26,000 youth under Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Program (BBSYDP);
-- Quality enhancement through Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Hunar Foundation, IBA Sukkur, Sindh/National Rural Support Organisations and British Petroleum;
-- Curriculum up-gradation with German experts' assistance;
-- Revival of Institute-Industry linkages through seminars and awareness campaigns;
-- Establishment of Petroleum Technical Training Institute (PTTI), Khairpur;
-- Establishment of 14 vocational training centers in the henceforth uncovered sub-divisions/Talukas of province of Sindh;
-- Establishment of career counselling centres with the assistance of US Aid for improving employability;
-- Establishment of 10 model institutions at Karachi, Kotri, Mirpurkhas Sukkur, Dadu, Larkano, Tando Muhammad Khan, Naushehro Feroze and Shahdadpur;
-- Training of 200 trainers at National Institute of Science of Technical Education (NISTE), Islamabad;
-- Personnel Development seminars for the faculty at various Regional Headquarters;
-- Entrepreneurship training to TEVT students through Shell Pakistan Ltd under its Tameer program;
-- Transparent and merit based recruitment after third party testing by National Testing Services;
-- Improving governance through Oracle based ERP solution for financial and human resource management and project accounting.-PR
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