LIFE SKILLS FOR TRAINEES OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURCES

LIFE SKILLS FOR TRAINEES OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURCES

While involving youth and adults in vocational training leads to self-employment, life skills training leads to the stimulation of professional activity, the beneficial use of the opportunities of modern technologies for business development, income generation and, ultimately, to a better quality of life.

Life skills training for teachers of Community Learning Centers (CLCs) is one of the world's priority areas in the process of additional education aimed at the comprehensive development of youth and adults, - says Rano Jumaeva, Head of the public organization Cultural and Educational Center “Tomiris”.

“Experience shows that majority learners do not immediately find a suitable job or are unable to use their skills to earn an income and improve their living standards. There are other factors that cause various problems and hinder the development of the local community. We concluded that graduates of vocational training courses also need other skills such as business relations and paperwork management, business planning and launching, digital skills, computer literacy, skills of working with people with disabilities, etc. Learning these additional skills can help young people and adults succeed by developing a sense of self-confidence”- Rano continued.

According to Rano Jumaeva, 32 teachers of CLCs were involved in various trainings and seminars in Nurek, Vakhdat and Sebiston jamoat of the Dangara District. First of all, they were taught life skills and modern methods of adult training. Teachers were provided with training modules and programs and ongoing mentoring support for conduction of similar trainings with youth and adults. In the process of vocational training courses (dressmaking, cooking, welding, computer basics courses), each of which lasts two months, 8 hours of life skills classes were introduced.

A coaching of this direction was also organized, in which a professional trainer observes the progress of the teacher's training and evaluates his/her capacities. After that, in a separate seminar, useful recommendations are given for correction of planning of an educational process and its analysis, improving process management skills, elements of quality assurance and the ability to answer questions. Teachers are also trained in the preparation of life skills curricula, interactive teaching methods, building relationships with participants and creating a supportive learning environment for them.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 450 CLC beneficiaries in the cities and districts of Nurek, Danghara and Vahdat have taken part in life skills trainings. The result is that among them, a number of young people and adults have started their professional careers and taken confident steps in various directions.

Mastona Berdieva, a teacher at Nurek CLC, says the students are interested in learning life skills. Because in this process they acquire the necessary additional knowledge, which is a requirement of the time and is important both in life and in their future activities. For example, digital skills classes cover information on communication technologies, data protection, use of social media, identifying gaps in digital skills, etc.“After providing general information on a chosen subject, we use brainstorming techniques to first determine trainee's level of knowledge and then prescribe appropriate actions,” Mastona said. “After the theoretical part, we move on to practical work in groups. In this section, trainees first identify their technical needs and then present them. In the meantime, we move on to a general discussion, and trainees exchange experiences and opinions. Thus, the subject will be studied, analyzed, discussed and concluded within two hours” - added Mastona.

Zakhro Ibrohimova, one of the beneficiaries of the Nurek CLC, noted that along with the vocational they learned other necessary skills. “I participated actively in life skills courses, both within dressmaking and confectionary vocational courses, and learned how to advertise my products, decorate them, collaborate with the stores and other colleagues. Today, using gained knowledge I sew and cook at home and sell my products to clients,” said Zakhro.

It should be noted that CLCs were established on the basis of branches and representative offices of the State Institution "Adult Training Center of Tajikistan" in cities and districts of Nurek, Vahdat, Dangara and Guliston. The initiative is implemented by the PO Cultural and Educational Center "Tomiris" with the support of the Country Office of DVV International in Tajikistan funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).