ISLAMABAD: The Federal Education and Professional Training ministry has decided to establish the first ever Federal Board of Technical Education and Vocational Training, which will also award graduate and postgraduate level certiñcate degrees.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at the ministry chaired by Education and Professional Training State Minister Balighur Rehman.

During the meeting, the minister gavea detailed presentation on the role of the proposed board and how it would function.

The minister approved the summary for the establishment of the board, which would be sent to the ministry of law and other concerned departments for approval.

The minister told Dawn the board was a need of the hour for the capital, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said the new board will revive technical education in these areas.

`Those who possess technical expertise but do not have certificates will be allowed to take tests and if they pass, they would be given certificates,` he said.

He said that skilled Pakistanis, who do not have certificates to prove their skill level, face difficulties when looking for work abroad. The technical board will award certificates to suchsl(illed people under Recognition of Prior Learning programme, he added.

The minister said this body would issue equivalence certificates as well.

He said that currently there was no board for technical education and vocational training in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK or Fata and no national level body to assess skills and award formal certificates and qualifications.

According to ministry officials, the plan was to constitute a model board which would set an example for provincial board of technical education (BTEs) and trade testing boards.

A ministry spokesperson said the board would ensure the development of trade testing rules and would ensure horizontal and vertical mobility, develop a National Vocational Qualification Framework and carry out surveillance and monitoring of af filiated institutions.