Some real work is being done to promote technical skills among the future labor force of the country. Until last year, the annual in-take of new trainees in all technical and vocational institutes and centers in the Republic was about 1,600 young men and women. In the past, many were refused, given lack of space and facilities. I have mounted an extensive campaign to secure external funding. We now have assistance from the World Bank, the European Union, Germany and other sources for our programs.
Donors see that manpower development is a key factor for the nation's future growth and well-being.
That is why and how the ministry is able to establish many more centers and institutes in various parts of the country. It is expected to be easily approved in next week's session. We are not pushing quantitative growth only. We have also re-structured our approach, curricula and training methods. For example, we have reduced the course load for religious and similar courses, because the students are supposed to have taken the necessary dose in those fields at earlier levels.