WB Approves $21m for Technical Education in Sindh:

50000 Youth to Benefit

The World Bank has approved a US$21 million credit for the Sindh Skills Development Project (SSDP) to assist the Government of Pakistan to strengthen its training programs for better employment outcomes of youth in the province of Sindh.  The aim of the project is to provide vocational training to some 50,000 youth in order to improve their skills and employability.

Access to education remains a huge challenge in Pakistan. Only a quarter of youth graduate from secondary education and a meagre 4% enters the higher education system. In addition, the quality of education is weak at all levels of education, drop-out rates are high, and learning achievements are low and varied. This translates to more than three-quarters of youth exiting the education system with some foundational skills, but with few marketable skills and facing difficulties finding employment.

“With 29% of Pakistan’s 169 million people in the 15-24 age range, this amounts to a tremendous education and training challenge,” said Rachid Benmessaoud, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. “Through this assistance, the Bank is targeting a critical need which has enormous social and economic impact for Pakistan to maximize its development and growth.”

The lack of a skilled labour force presents a significant constraint to the country’s growth and competitiveness, which underscores the need to make the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector responsive to the demand of the youth for jobs and a contributor to improved competitiveness of Pakistani firms.

The project will focus on trainees between 18 and 35 years old, with special emphasis on youth from poorer and less developed districts of the province.