Vocational schools, also called polytechnic or polytrade schools in Pakistan, are the one where students learn the job related skills. These schools educate the students through practical training and job specific content.
A professional certificate from vocational schools is a highly valuable addition to your resume. Vocational schools also prepare you for a higher college degree by enhancing your knowledge base.
This guide will introduce you to the best vocational schools in Pakistan. It will also unbox the careers you can join after attending a vocational school.
What is vocational education?
After completing matric, you have an option to join a college to continue in the academia or join a vocational school. The main difference is that one keeps on studying at a college while those joining a vocational school learn highly practical skills required on the job.
Main features of a vocational education
To understand what is vocational education, let’s take a look at the main features of vocational training:
- Provide hands-on, practical learning (for example, dental apprenticeship, hardware repair skills, agriculture skills etc.)
- Most of the programs are shorter in duration (around two years) and launch you directly into the job market without further study.
- Most programs take in students who have done matric or those who wish to learn a new skill later in life.
Is vocational training for you?
College studies are not for everyone. So, even though matric students look forward to further education, joining a paid job within two years can provide a quick alternative to getting a job after years of studying. Here are some key points to look at to decide whether a vocational school is right for you!
Vocational schools are low cost
Two years of FA/FSc and four years of a bachelor’s degree can add up to a lot of cost, which includes tuition, admission, food, traveling, and housing. If you are young and need to start earning sooner than your fellows, you might consider a vocational school. The low cost of a vocational school is because most of the programs are government funded or led by non-profit organizations.
Vocational courses offer an alternative to studies
Many students want to continue their formal education but end up dropping out due to financial difficulties, lack of support, or low interest in subjects that just seem uninteresting. Therefore, students should not choose a college degree out of social pressures because they tend to build up and lead to a lot of frustration.
Vocational training is shorter
Vocational training can lead you into a career straight after you have completed the courses. It is an ideal choice to limit chances of late employment. Shorter and more focused courses help you take your skills to the workplace the next day, thus cutting short the long distance of studying and waiting.
Vocational training may increase your on-job satisfaction
It is noticeable that many college degree holders are facing an acute shortage of jobs. While there are multiple explanations for this, it is more alarming that those who get jobs face on-job unhappiness.
A plausible link is that students who are studying at college join a job that has no match with their educational background. Those who invest their young years practically doing what they will eventually do at their workplace enjoy more long-term happiness!
Vocational schools give you in-demand skills
Vocational schools focus on teaching job-ready skills to prepare you with in-demand skills. Some institutions in Pakistan also have international liaisons and keep their practical course-work at par with high standards. Also, if you think that there is no practical use of learning all sorts of subjects you may not have interest in, you may be the right candidate for a vocational course.
Vocational schools have smaller class sizes
Another benefit of joining a vocational school is that you would not be lost in the crowd. The small class sizes allow you to practice with detail and eventually become an expert at it.
Vocational schools in Pakistan
If you are taking a gap year, don’t get worried and turn this time into a great learning opportunity by joining a vocational school in your area with hard work and the right decision you will gain the skills your employers will value. Here are some top vocational schools in Pakistan providing training to students with matric and intermediate education. These schools also provide skills to the disabled people and give them the job skills to earn a livelihood.
#1 Pakistan technical and vocational education and training reform
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is working together with the private sector organizations for a widespread success of technical and vocational education and training. By joining TVET, you will have:
- Equitable access to quality TVET and enhanced employability.
- Demand-driven skills and training.
- Access to an international level training.
TVET works in partnership with the Norwegian embassy, European Council, and the German Cooperation.
Courses offered at TVET include the following areas:
- Agriculture
- Information technology
- Services
- Manufacturing
- Energy
#2 National Vocational & Technical Training Commission
The purpose of the programs at NAVTTC is to equip young people with market-driven conventional and high-tech skills required for career progression with an aim to bring the capacity of youth at par with international standards.
The program components include standardization of TVET, establishment of 75 High Tech Skills centers/labs, National Employment Exchange Tool (NEXT) with national job portal and conventional, apprenticeship and high tech skills training and national/international accreditation of TVET institutes.
Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Program under the NAVTTC is the vehicle of change to empower youth and harness their potential for human development and transformation of the future of Pakistan.
NAVTTC is home to thousands of students who learn technical skills post-matric and many who find jobs through its vast networking. Several international level skill assessments are also conducted at NAVTTC.
Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Program (PMYSDP)
The Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Program (PMYSDP) was initiated to strengthen the quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The purpose of the program is to equip young people with market-driven conventional and high-tech skills required for career progression with an aim to bring the capacity of youth at par with international standards.
PMYSDP is the vehicle of change to empower youth and harness their potential for human development and transformation of the future of Pakistan. The program comprises several components of interventions to stimulate the transformation of the entire TVET system in the country.
Components of PMYSDP
Following are the components of PMYSDP:
- High tech skills: Skill development of the youth in high-end technologies.
- Conventional skill development: Skill development in conventional trades for the youth belonging to less developed areas.
- Apprenticeship training: Apprenticeship training in various fields. Over 1500 candidates have been trained in leading industries.
- National accreditation: Accreditation of TVET institutes all across the country.
- International accreditation: International accreditation of TVET institutes and joint international degree programs.
- NEXT: National Employment Exchange Tool with national job portal and career counseling centers.
- Recognition of prior learning: Recognition of skills learned before as informally acquired skills.
- Facilitation centers: Facilitation centers in 10 cities of Pakistan.
- Teachers training: Training of TVET teachers as per the international standards.
#3 Technical Educational and Vocational Training Authority
TEVTA focuses more on quality skill education rather than quantity. There has been a rising number of students in numerous disciplines, which is evident of tremendous efforts by TEVTA management and faculty to maintain skill and competency standards as per international criterion years of 2 year diploma, 1 year & 6 month certification courses.
TEVTA aims to enhance global competitiveness in Punjab, through a quality and productive workforce by developing demand driven, standardized, dynamic and integrated technical education and vocational training service.
Top vocational skills and careers
- Dental assistant
- Veterinary assistant
- Pharmacy technician
- Industrial electrician
- Beauty therapist
- Textile designer
- Fashion designing and dress maker
- Tourism expert
- Hair and beauty expert
- IOT and data coding
- Graphic designer
- Professional chef
- Artificial intelligence expert
- Office automation expert
- Robotics expert
- eCommerce expert
Guidelines to succeed as a student
In vocational schools, you will learn the importance of time alongside the vocational skills.
Therefore, you will see that formal learning and training has to be finished within certain time limits.
Do you want to know how you can maximize the day to achieve your targets of training? Let’s learn to schedule our day and minimize distractions.
#1 Time blocking technique
A popular strategy of scheduling your day is “time blocking”. It is a simple yet effective way to maximize your time by blocking time for specific activities.
#2 The day theming technique
You will dedicate each day to one part of learning or training only. In this technique, you don’t need to set aside time blocks for each sub-task.
#3 Task batching technique
Task batching technique is used to group similar and smaller tasks together. You will also schedule a specific time for each smaller task and define a larger time frame to finish all the small tasks.
Now, let’s hear you in the comments below! What are your favorite takeaways from this post?
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