Pakistan's youth bulge is both an asset and a liability. Whether it becomes a driver of the economic growth or a burden on national resources depends on the empowerment of youth with the skills of the 21st century and transformed into productive human capital. Unfortunately, Pakistan's education and employment ecosystem faces complex and interconnected challenges.
The education curriculum in Pakistan remains largely outdated, failing to incorporate the innovations of the 21st century. Poor learning outcomes and lack of market- relevant skills have diminished the employability of youth, eroding the trust of parents in the public education system. As a result, low-income families often opt to send their children to work leading to increase in school drop-outs, worsening the OOSC situation and further perpetuating cycles of poverty.
The latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) 2020-21 presents an alarming situation:
These children and unemployed youth are a missed opportunity for developing the country�s human capital and tapping in the potential of economic growth.
In the Season 3, Episode 6 of Let�s Talk Education, Ms. Gulmina Bilal, Chairperson of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), emphasized the need to invest in youth. She stated, �Investing in the youth is the key to human capital development. By equipping them with skills that match market demands, we are not just creating a workforce; we are building a future-ready nation.�
However, two things stand in the way:
Ms Bilal highlighted that the emphasis on academic qualifications and white-collar jobs has undervalued vocational educational in Pakistan. Low-income households prefer engaging young children in child labor and learning trade to enrolling in vocational educational institutes. Even those migrating abroad prefer illegal pathways (dunki routes) for low-wage jobs rather than acquiring vocational education and applying for trade visas.
To address this situation, NAVTTC is taking proactive measures:
"Vocational training is not inferior but is an essential pathway for economic development and reducing unemployment", stressed Ms Bilal.
However, a critical aspect remains the need to treat curricula as a living body that evolves with the industry standards and demands. NAVTTC has prioritized updating curricula to ensure that technical college graduates are well-prepared for modern job markets.
"Given the limited funding for education overall, how do you justify prioritizing vocational training when millions of children are out of school?", asked Areebah. Ms. Bilal responded clearly that vocational training complements traditional education by addressing the needs of youth who might otherwise remain unemployed or drop out of school. NAVVTC provides short-term courses which is a cost-effective method of providing employable skills and catalyze poverty alleviation and economic growth and is particularly effective in low-income and underserved communities.
Pakistan stands at a critical juncture. The youth bulge can become the driver of economic prosperity or deepen the existing socio-economic disparities. To transform the youth into productive human capital, we must prioritize education reforms and vocational training. Initiatives such as those steered by NAAVTC are a step in the right direction.
By equipping young people with 21st-century skills and fostering a culture that values vocational education, Pakistan can create a workforce ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow. As Ms. Bilal aptly said, �We�re not just creating a workforce; we�re building a future-ready nation.� The time to act is now!
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