Vocational Training: A remedy for Unemployment and Poverty
By: A. Sami Malik
Sahiwal, Punjab – September 2015: "My family did not expect that I would earn so much in such a short period of time - and nor did I," says 21-year-old Zubair Alam, who works as a Hardware and Network Assistant in the computer laboratory of one of the largest private colleges in Sahiwal, a major city in the province of Punjab, Pakistan.
"Following my graduation from the Vocational Training Institute (VTI), Sahiwal last year, the VTI facilitated a two-month work placement in the college as part of its on-the-job training programme," says Zubair. "Soon after the training, my job was regularised. Using some of the income I earned in the first few months, I set up a computer repair shop, and now my combined monthly earnings from the job in the college and from the shop total around 20,000 rupees (USD 200). This is more than my father makes in a month."
UNICEF/Pakistan 2015/Sarah Naqvi
Zubair Alam sits in his computer shop where he repairs computers
for half the price charged in the market.
Zubair's father, Alam Din, is a small time scrap-dealer who makes around 12,000 to 15,000 rupees (USD 120 TO 150) each month. As the sole breadwinner of a ten-member household, he has faced financial hardship for most of his life. "I wanted all my children to be educated but with my meagre income, it was hard to manage," says Alam Din."I wanted all my children to be educated but with my meagre income, it was hard to manage," says Zubair's father Alam Din. "My eldest son dropped out of school and started helping me in my work. A few years later, he got married and moved to another city. We haven't heard from him since. Zubair took over the responsibility and has eased my burden. He is continuing his studies, has a full-time job at the college and also manages his computer shop."
While pursuing his education, Zubair was mindful of his father's financial hardship and wanted to start earning as soon as possible. He had heard from his friends about the VTI in Farid Town Sahiwal, which offers training courses in a number of disciplines. Considering it an opportunity to help him earn an income even before completing his education, he enrolled in the Computer Hardware and Networking class, shortly after taking his intermediate examination.
"Computer Hardware and Networking is a fourteen-month course", says Abdul Rahman, an Instructor at the VTI. "For the first 12 months, we teach and train students - covering approximately 20 per cent theory and 80 per cent practical work. In the last two months, each successful candidate is placed with an organisation for on-the-job training. Zubair was a good student and upon successful completion of his course, we placed him in a private college. His work was highly appreciated and he now has a regular job there. Like Zubair, many of our graduates are success stories, which is a matter of pride for us."
UNICEF/Pakistan2015/Sarah Naqvi
From time to time, Zubair visits the Vocational Training Institute,
Sahiwal, where he trained for 14 months, to meet his instructor and
help current students.
Realising the importance of complementing his skills with hard work, Zubair rented a room close to his house and set up his modest computer repair shop. After working eight hours every day, six days a week, he spends another couple of hours each evening at his shop, repairing computers for his friends, neighbours or anyone else who needs his services.
"In my shop, I repair computers at half the cost charged in the market," says Zubair. "It gives me extra income and experience. I would like to complete a Bachelor's degree and find a job in the Middle East. A number of students who graduated from VTI Sahiwal have found jobs abroad and are doing very well. I want to do the same."
UNICEF/Pakistan2015/Sarah
Naqvi Zubair Alam working in the computer lab of a private college
where he was hired as a Hardware and Network Assistant after graduating
from the Vocational Training Institute, Sahiwal.
In 2012, UNICEF initiated a project called 'Building Young Futures' in selected districts of Punjab province. Funded by Barclays Bank UK, the goal of the project is to improve income-generating opportunities for socially excluded and vulnerable adolescents by enabling them to access demand-driven life, financial literacy and enterprise skills, through participation in recognised and certified training courses. For implementation of the project, UNICEF collaborated with the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC) and the Department of Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology and Tourism (YASAT).
Through its 223 VTIs set up across the province, the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC) imparts vocational training to young men and women in 51 trades which cater for the growing demands of the industrial and agricultural sectors. So far, out of 10,170 trainees enrolled in various courses, 9,813 adolescents (5,063 girls and 4,750 boys) have completed all aspects of their training, including work placements. Amongst those who have graduated, 2,020 have become entrepreneurs and 2,060 have found employment.
"We have a certain criteria for selecting boys and girls for admission to various vocational training courses, including aptitude, family circumstances, demand, employment-potential etc.," says Muhammad Navid Javid, Principal of the VTI Farid Town, Sahiwal. "For boys, computer hardware and networking, software development, electrical, electronics and motorbike repair are the most sought after courses, while girls prefer fashion design, dress-making and beauty therapy. Data relating to employment figures for our graduates indicates a success rate of over 70 per cent."
The partnership between UNICEF and Barclays Bank in support of a brighter future for young men and women of Punjab has yielded commendable results. 'Building Young Futures', has proved to be an"Punjab Vocational Training Council's dual vocational education and structured on-the-job learning programmes have ensured a smooth entry for many marginalised and excluded young people into the labour market", says Shagufta Bhatti, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist.
effective remedy for unemployment and poverty as thousands of young people and their families have benefited from this project. It has resulted in improved standards of living, greater self-esteem and prospects of a prosperous and fulfilling career.
"Punjab Vocational Training Council's dual vocational education and structured on-the-job learning programmes have ensured a smooth entry for many marginalised and excluded young people into the labour market", says Shagufta Bhatti, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist. "The training is tailored to the needs of both employers and the labour market. In partnership with the PVTC and based on the experience and learnings from the first phase of 'Building Young Futures', the second and ongoing phase of the project focuses on improving income-generating opportunities for socially excluded and vulnerable young people in selected districts of Punjab. The training includes life and enterprise skills, demand-driven skills and financial literacy."
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پاکستان کسی بھی پاکستانی کے لئے اللہ کی سب سے بڑی نعمتوں میں سے ایک ہے. آج ہم جو بھی ہے یہ سب اس وجہ پاکستان کی ہے ، دوسری صورت میں ، ہم کچھ بھی نہیں ہوتا. براہ مہربانی پاکستان کے لئے مخلص ہو.
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