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NAVTEC to consult all stakeholders
PESHAWAR, Aug 10 : The National Vocational and Technical
Education Commission (NAVTEC), a national apex body for technical and vocational
education and training has started wide-ranging consultations with its
stakeholders around the country on Skilling Pakistan, a vision for the National
Skills Strategy 2008-2012. Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press
Club on Muhammad Ather Tahir, Executive Director, NAVTEC said the consultative
process would involve presenting the vision to its stakeholders, employers,
trainees, training providers and the government, around which discussion would
be generated and consensus built.
Based on inputs received during this phase of
consultation and Strategy development, he said detailed implementation plans
would be developed. Muhammad Saleem Ahmad, director coordination and deputy
directors Dr Thabassum and Dr Tariq Awan were also present on the occasion. He
further said the vision was based on an initial review of the existing system of
skills development in Pakistan, a study of several international systems, and
consultation with stakeholders. "It represents the first phase of the
formulation of the National Skills Strategy, 2008-2012. It proposes various
features of reform which would lead to a quality skills development system," he
informed. He went on to add that skills development was strongly associated with
economic growth and importantly social development. Education and training
empower individuals by enabling them to access employment, incomes, and
therefore, to escape poverty and marginalization.
He said developing the skills
of Pakistan's workforce was becoming increasingly important. Changes in
technology, the emergence of global markets for products and services,
international competition, the emphasis on attracting foreign direct investment
and new forms of business organization and production, have created a demand for
new, diversified, industry relevant skills and knowledge. To meet these
challenges, he said Pakistan government had made skills development a political
priority. "Skilling Pakistan, A vision for the National Skills Strategy
2008-2012 describes how this priority can be realized to ensure a system that
provides relevant skills for industrial and economic development, improves
access, equity and employability and assuring quality." PPI
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