He was addressing the seminar organised by Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE) in collaboration with TVET Reform Support Programme as a part of their efforts to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country. Representatives of TVET Reform Programme, Tevta officers, executives/owners of TVET private sector institutions and other prominent guests were present at the occasion.
Arif Saeed in his address highlighted the importance of skilled labour force, role of private sector in TEVT promotion, need for improving quality of TVET, Job oriented training and TVET promotion strategy in the country. Highlighting the importance of skilled labour force he was of the view that we should not consider population as a burden but we should consider it as an asset and equip them with skills.
While giving an example of Germany in this regard Arif said that the largest economy of the Europe, which is facing labour problem due to low population, especially its IT sector in which it has to rely on foreign labour force. He claimed that if we train our valuable youth in a proper way it will not only Socio-economic development resulting in national development but also will cater to the needs of labour force internationally required.
He stressed on the need of involvement of private sector in TVET programmes adding that public sector alone can do nothing. Highlighting the need for improving the quality of TVET in the country he said that curriculum should be developed and upgraded after involving view point of all stakeholder and with utmost devotion and consideration in order to ensure that its trained graduates will have value in the market.
Arif while pointing out the low quality of technical education said that the ration of pass percentage of TVET candidates is 22 percent and urged the private and public sector that serious efforts should be made by them for enhancing its pass percentage by at least 40 percent in the next three years.