Context:
Afghanistan has made considerable progress in some areas of development in recent years. The country's reconstruction achievements, however, vary greatly from region to region. For example, Uruzgan province is still marked by weaker governance structures and greater economic instability than the rest of the country.
The shortage of qualified workers is a serious obstacle to economic development in the province, while the standard of education in Uruzgan remains significantly below the Afghan average. This is especially true in the area of state technical and vocational education and training(TVET). There is a lack of suitable training facilities, qualified vocational education staff and practical training materials.
Objective:
As a result of the vocational education centre built in the provincial capital Tarin Kowt and through the advice provided to the Deputy Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and local decision-makers, the Afghan Government will for the first time be able to offer modern vocational training services of a professional standard in Uruzgan province. This will unleash potential in the local economy and allow Uruzgan's population to participate in the economic development of the province as a whole.
Approach:
Working on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office, with the Dutch Government as co-financier, GIZ is planning to build the first modern vocational education centre in the province. GIZ is collaborating with consulting firms and Afghan partner authorities in planning a campus for the new centre. Construction work will be carried out by local building firms, with GIZ providing the technical and quality-assurance oversight. The TVET centre will be equipped to meet local needs and demands, while also fulfilling internationally recognised standards for facilities of this kind.
With the aim of ensuring the continuous operation of the school, GIZ is advising the Deputy Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and local decision-makers as they assume their responsibilities. This advice covers the recruitment and training of school staff and the development of adapted training materials, in particular for pre-vocational and non-formal TVET measures and in-service training.
The school management team and teaching staff are receiving regular training in order to achieve and maintain high TVET standards in Uruzgan. The training are given by national and international experts. School staff also benefit from on-site advice and support that enables them carry out their tasks in line with the relevant quality standards.
Local economy, with its traditional family businesses, is directly integrated into the training activities. The school's teaching staff work with craftspeople from local markets to teach trainees, underpinning the practical approach and local knowledge transfer.
Results:
A new TVET campus has been built for the vocational education in Tarin Kowt, with three school buildings and three modern workshop buildings. For the first time, this gives 400 enrolled students the opportunity to receive a modern vocational education in 13 different subjects and to take part in pre-vocational and non-formal TVET measures.
The Afghan government has recruited additional management and teaching staff for the TVET school. Thanks to the regular advisory services and support, the school management team is increasingly able to independently plan and deliver classes, and to guarantee the day-to-day running of the school, which includes maintaining and repairing the buildings. The in-service training for teaching staff and the involvement of local craftspeople in the hands-on classes underpins the practical approach at the school. For the first time, modern technical and vocational education services are being provided in Uruzgan.