KARACHI: The Sindh Technical Education and Vocation Training Authority (Stevta) will give admissions to as many as 5000 students in diploma programs of various disciplines for the session 2016-17. “In a bid to ensure transparency in the admission process, the Stevta has tasked the National Testing Service (NTS) to conduct written test in this regard,” Director Academics Liaqat Jamro told Daily Times. Liaqat Jamro said this year Stevta has engaged NTS for the written test to ensure transparency in the admission process, adding that arrangements have been finalized for the test to be held on October 16th for Karachi region’s 22 technical institutes. “Around 10,000 students are taking part in the written test while total available seats are 5000,” said Liaquat, adding that the written tests would be held in two shifts at six notified centers that include government Degree Arts/Science College for Boys and Girls, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 7; Nazir Hussain University, Karimabad; Government National College No-1, Shaheed-e-Millat Road near Jail Chowrangi; Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government College for Women, opposite Liaqat National Hospital; Metropolitan Academy, behind Darul Sehat Hospital, Gulistan-Jauhar; and St Patrick’s College, Saddar. He said at the time of Independence technical education was offered only in engineering colleges with total annual intake capacity of about 350 students in the fields of civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. “The first polytechnic institute (now Govt. College of Technology) was established in 1955 with the assistance of Ford Foundation, USA. Now, there are 252 TEVT institutions all over the province,” said the director academics. In Sindh, he added, TEVT administration until recently was in fragmented manner and controlled by three different departments i.e. 182 institutes by Education and Literacy department, 34 institutes by Labor department, and 16 institutes by Social Welfare department. “Due to lack of coordination these Departments were performing overlapping functions, especially in the area of Vocational Trainings and do not focus on effective control and did not align themselves with Federal/Provincial policy frameworks,” said Liaquat. Besides, he added, the infrastructure of these institutions in terms of buildings, equipment, machinery and faculty did not meet national and international standards, while due to proficiency gaps trained manpower was not acceptable to local and international labor markets. “In order to extend complete autonomy and effective management, the policy making task has been entrusted to the STEVTA Board consisting of eminent professionals, from public and private sectors, representatives from leading industries, universities etc. Sindh Cabinet in its meeting held on 28th February 2009 entrusted the administrative control of all TEVT Institutions,” he added.