Technical and vocational training programs are considered pivotal in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Balochistan is becoming a predominantly youthful society with a high rate of unemployment; which requires training the youth through TVET to tackle the problem of unemployment that has reached alarming proportions. The disruptive impact of youth unemployment represents a significant threat to social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. The dominant explanation for this has been observed in fragile states where Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has played a prominent role in mitigating conflicts and promoting social cohesion. Balochistan’s long-running struggle with various forms of sectarian violence, insurgencies, insecurity, crime, and other social ills harms the province’s image as a haven for investment. These constraints to development, have been linked to persistently high unemployment rates among the youth, and a major cause of unemployment is the lack of adequate skills for employment among job seekers. Given this, it is important to explore the skills and training system (TVET) in Balochistan and identify the contextual challenges and opportunities for TVET in developing relevant skills for employment and job creation needed for provincial as well as national development.
Balochistan has an economically active and working-age population above 60% of the total population. In Balochistan, the working-age population has almost reached 8.9 million, and the unemployment rate has reached 4.3%. Balochistan is going through a rapid demographic transition. Keeping in view this demographic opportunity, the real problem for the province is how to convert this demographic transition into a demographic dividend, because it requires a lot of investment in human capital, and, in return, it will enhance productivity. The demographic dividend is considered an opportunity that, if utilized effectively, could bring prosperity and economic growth. If it does not materialize properly, the same demographic dividend could be a demographic nightmare and disaster for the province. The increase in the working-age population will reap the demographic dividend. The per capita income of the province will be 165% higher than today`s level if there is no decrease in fertility rates; if the fertility rates decline, it will observe a 388% increase in per capita income.
Every development strategy strongly emphasizes education since it serves as the center around which many other initiatives are based. TVET is described as “a comprehensive term referring to those aspects of the educational process involving general education, the study of technology and related sciences, and the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding, and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of economic and social life. The main goal of TVET is to offer a platform for the development of social skills and to flourish employable abilities for the workforce or job creation. To make major contributions to the national economy and reduce their susceptibility to anti-social forces that utilize them for actions against the security and peace of the province, Balochistan’s jobless youth population has to be involved in productive endeavors. To equip the province’s youth with the necessary skills for decent work, economic growth, and a fair standard of living, they must access high-quality education.
TVET can play its role in achieving the SDGs’ goals related to poverty, hunger, education, and conflict mitigation. A study that is carried out in Canada, Chile, China, Taiwan, and the United States that TVET can make a significant contribution and has a unique characteristic that enables these institutions to play a crucial role in achieving the SDGs. The participation of youth in these skilled programs will reduce inequalities and will provide a sustained livelihood to the youth of the province. The former trades suggest that TVET is an effective tool for human, social, and capital development, and it will also contribute to the sustainable development of the province. TVET plays an important role in producing skilled human resources that can lead a nation toward sustainable peace and development.
Balochistan has already entered the demographic transition phase, which will result in a significant increase in population. Undoubtedly, the population will have a bulge of the working class, which, if managed and facilitated properly, would contribute to the development of the province as well as the country. Skill development and the TVET sector have a critical role to play in reducing unemployment, mitigating conflicts, and promoting social cohesion. Developing technical and vocational skills among youth will help achieve the SDG goals of quality education, eradicating hunger and poverty, decent work and unemployment, and promoting peace and justice. In this regard, TVET has a bidirectional role if played properly. The TVET sector generates human capital, which contributes in two ways: first, by reducing poverty through job creation, and second, by increasing the country’s GDP. Numerous analyses have demonstrated that comprehensive TVET provisions can considerably enhance people’s livelihoods and employment prospects. Along with employment, these benefits also include a rise in self-esteem and social status of an individual in the community, a decrease in aggressive behavior and violence, positive contributions to the community, and improvements in gender relations. However, many flaws in the current TVET system need further development. Reforms in the TVET sector are required to achieve effective skilled human resources for the province’s socioeconomic development.
Reforms in the TVET sector are required to achieve effective skilled human resources for the province’s socioeconomic development. The government of Balochistan should focus on providing the latest TVET skills instead of traditional skills. The mode of operation should and must be reformed. We are still focusing on traditional training, but as the world has evolved and technological demands have increased, we must shift from traditional technical training towards high-tech base training. Youth should be provided with hard, foundational, life, or soft skills. Coordination among all stakeholders related to TVET is recommended. BTEVTA, NAVTTC, and private TVET institutes will help to solve the existing legal issues, reduce the trust deficit, and administer departmental and administrative issues among allied TVET departments and BTEVTA.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
The author is a Research Officer at Baluchistan Think Tank Network (BTTN).
