Improving technical and vocational education and training in Pakistan

Context

In Pakistan, two to three million young people enter the labour market every year, many of them without formal education and training. The state TVET system is not able to provide enough education and training opportunities that adequately prepare participants for employment in the private sector or as qualified self-employed people. For cultural reasons, women are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to education, employment, income and social participation.

Objective

TVET institutions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan and Punjab regions are better equipped for needs-based planning and management. TVET graduates and job seekers find employment in growth sectors more easily.

Approach

The project works to align TVET more effectively with demand, build up skills and knowledge in the TVET system, facilitate access to education for women and increase private sector involvement.

In order to leverage the potential of growth sectors, the project promotes new training content in the areas of digitalisation and green skills (skills for a sustainable economy). This gives young TVET graduates and job seekers better job prospects in these sectors.

The project works in the following priority areas:

• Improve skills for data-based TVET planning and management
• Support in finding a first job and career planning
• Align education and training more closely with digitalisation and green skills
• Train TVET personnel
• Improve access to income-securing employment (including returnees)

Last update: September 2023