A skilled and educated workforce is essential for a strong economy, as it can drive innovation, improve productivity, and enhance competitiveness in various sectors. Pakistan needs to invest more in the TVET sector to develop the skills of its youth, said Prof Muhammad Mukhtar, Founding Vice Chancellor of the National Skills University, Islamabad. Pakistan has a great asset in its young people. While other countries grapple with their aging populations, Pakistan has a rich source of young talent.

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is an important part of any policy that aims to improve the socio-economic well-being of a nation’s people. For countries like ours that have a large youth population, TVET can help us use their potential for national socio-economic development, said Prof Mukhar. “Regrettably, in Pakistan, participation in specialized TVET programs remains minimal, regardless of gender,” he said. “In countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia, the entire TVET system is owned, managed, and governed by their industries. As a result, they value skilled workers as they can boost productivity, efficiency, and quality of their products. In Pakistan, the role of industry is a far cry from such essential ownership of TVET sector,” he added.

The National Skill University is the only university that is recognized by UNESCO-UNEVOC. In Pakistan, we are the UNESCO centre for skills development. This institution provides the youth with skill-based education aligned with the changing landscape of academic priorities. “The principal objective of this university is to equip the workforce with industry-relevant skills and knowledge, thus enhancing their chances of employability in the national and international job markets,” he continued.

He said that our huge youth population and the big gap between the supply and demand of labor in the national and international market require more funding than what we have now. The current level of funding is very low. To improve the TVET sector in Pakistan, we need to find new ways of funding. We also need to train millions of youths who are waiting to join the economy. The government should support the private sector to expand the TVET services to the rural areas. Prof Mukhtar urged the youth to acquire skills that can help them find jobs or start their own businesses. He said that unemployment is a serious issue in Pakistan that needs to be addressed. He also called for the government’s support for policies that create opportunities for the youth to learn new skills.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)