Islamabad - A special taskforce, constituted for development of the first ever national policy for the technical and vocational education and training (TVET), has finalised the draft document and the policy would be launched shortly.
This was shared in a briefing session held in National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) chaired by the Minister of State for Federal Education, Training and Standards in Higher Education Baligh ur Rehman.
The session was also attended by Secretary Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Mr. Ahsan Raja, Chairman Taskforce on TVET Policy, Dr. Allah Bakhsh Malik (Additional Secretary) and Executive Director NAVTTC Muhammad Imtiaz Tajwar besides national and international TVET experts of GIZ.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister appreciated the excellent work by NAVTTC and TVET Reform Support Program, from inception to finalization. He acknowledged special role of the Taskforce for facilitating countrywide consultation around the TVET policy. He said TVET has critical role to play in social and economic development. He emphasised that key objectives of the policy document need to be quantified on the basis of pragmatic realities to ensure doable implementation of the reforms.
He also highlighted the need for introducing Technical Education in all high schools to shift focus from general education to skills development.  The aim of this policy is to reduce the drop-out ratio and to harness energies for gainful employment.
The Minister specifically recognized the role of NAVTTC as an apex body for regulation of TVET reforms for the entire country and directed the Task force to eliminate organizational duplications and to introduce synergetic approach.
On the policy proposal for establishment of skills development fund, the Minister directed that a committee may be constituted to devise a mechanism for raising and spending of the fund for skills development.
In conclusion, the Minister gave specific directions for further improvements in the policy document and desired that the policy must be rolled out by the end of February 2015.