Suva, January 28 – Technical vocational education and training targeted at youths in the country is set to witness a dynamic shift in terms of curriculum and institutional infrastructure.
This follows a meeting held yesterday between the Minister for Youth and Sports Hon. Laisenia Tuitubou and senior ministry officials with representatives from Avic International Project Engineering Company of the People’s Republic of China.
Avic International Deputy General manager Nick Liang Bin while presenting the company’s TVET concept informed the Hon. Minister of the company’s intentions of assisting developing countries target and alleviate prevalent youth related issues.
Mr Liang Bin stated that vocational training was an integral part of generic education and that one of its features was its deliverance to different levels of sophistication as it would place emphasis on the expertise that was demanded by diverse economic sectors.
“The employment of youths is the future of any nation and this is what motivates us to take our development and vocational training concept to developing countries.
“This TVET concept is tailor made for youths and is geared towards all youths because their prosperity will fuel the sustainability of the country,” said Mr Liang Bin.
He said that vocational training held a higher priority in the Chinese Governmental investment portfolio as it would support the growth of developing countries by addressing the challenges of low economic growth rate, high youth unemployment resulting in social and political instability and the unsustainable development of training sector coupled with a widening gap between the employment industry and education system.
The Deputy General manager also iterated the need for the Ministry of Youth and Sports to collaborate with Avic International to realize the positive outcomes of engaging with them through their program for the development of Fijian youths and those from around the region.
“As a large-scale state owned entity we are well aware of the wants of our government and we have a reformed policy on technical education and vocation training and by working closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we hope to reform the vocational training here in Fiji,” said Mr Liang Bin.
Minister Tuitubou welcomed the proposal put forward by Avic International as it would augur well for the sustainability and development of young Fijians.
“The Ministry has been approved by Cabinet to conduct non-formal education for youths at a very small scale and we offer some short courses which can provide empowerment to the youths as well and from your presentations we are confident that we can successfully implement the same here in Fiji as the onus is on us to think long term and more extensively.”
“What is on offer here is very interesting and judging from the presentation we should be on hand to engage with Avic International and we should fully utilize this opportunity and collaborate further,” said Minister Tuitubou.
Also proposed during the meeting was the prospect of Avic International either constructing a new state of the art technical vocational institute or rehabilitating existing youth training centres.
A draft Memorandum of Understanding was tabled by Avic International during the discussions as the next step to be undertaken by both the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Chinese project engineering company.