Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan, H.E. Hannu Ripatti met with the Federal Minister of Education and Professional Training, Mr. Madad Ali Sindhi in Islamabad on Oct 31, 2023.
Various areas of education were discussed during the meeting especially in the areas vocational and technical training, with a focus on upgrading educational institutions in Pakistan.
Mr. Hannu Ripatti informed the Minister about the on going collaboration between the government of Finland and Pakistan and stated that they are already providing vocational trainings at NUTECH and NUST. The Ambassador told the Minister that two Finnish universities are already providing technical and human expertise to these institutions. Madad Ali Sindhi praised the literacy rate of Finland and the high quality of education that their public sector provides to its entire population and raised the pressing concern of out of school children in Pakistan, one of the biggest challenges that Pakistan faces today. Ambassador of Finland shared the experience of Finland and apprised the minister about the policies adapted by the government of Finland to overcome these problems.
Minister encouraged further collaboration between Pakistani and Finnish educational institutions, targeting multiple sectors including the Hotel and Restaurant Industry, Construction, IT, Teachers Training, and Engineering Studies. TAI , Turku Vocational Institution is having a key role in the TVET sector, and Ambassador Hannu Ripatti shared details of Finland’s existing collaboration with Pakistan, highlighting ongoing vocational training programs at NUTECH.
“I am very happy to see the collaboration in the education sector taking big steps as we speak”, Mr. Wille Eerola, Hon. Consul General of Pakistan to Finland said. “Just in the coming months, we are seeing new programs in TVET sectors, but also in the basic education, including teachers training and education development programs. We are also hosting a several meetings on these subjects still before end of this year. Furthermore, education is one of the key subjects at the Finland Pakistan Business Summit 2024, too”