The Department of Education continues to implement a well-planned strategy to upgrade the English language competencies of the trainees at its training centres in response to employers feedback regarding graduates’ in sufficient communication skills in English. Assisted by two experts, two surveys about job market needs in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates were conducted and analyzed. Efforts have been underway for building training programmes and technical curricula to address this problem.

The following activities have been implemented:-

• Training of English Instructors on Specific English syllabus design and writing
• Producing a pilot edition syllabus for the trade courses
• Distribution of the pilot edition to all trade courses
• Collecting feedback from teachers, trainees and employers about the pilot edition, an evaluation tool was made for the purpose.
• Producing five Specific textbooks for the second year trainees as follows:-
  1. Automotive trades (four courses) one book of eight units
  2. Electrical and ELECTRONICS TRADES (two courses) one book of eight units.
  3. Building, refrigeration and heating courses (five courses) one book of eight units.
  4. Women craft courses (two courses) one book of eight units.

UP-GRADING/REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT AT TRAINING CENTRES.

The main objective of this project was to provide the UNRWA training centres with the equipment demanded by the labour markets in order to enable the Palestinian trainees to acquire the needed skills for facilitating their employment at local market. TVETD at HQA, prepared a list of centres’ requirement from the equipment, based on the market study and research.

UNRWA Education Department has worked to implement a programme to upgrade technical training and management practices at eight Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) in the region. Over the past four years of implementation, the Computer and Information Technology Initiative (CITI) has provided a complete overhaul of computer training facilities, and introduced a series of instructor and management training programmes aimed at raising and standardizing instruction and administrative practice in the five fields of operations. CITI was divided into four phases of implementation.

Phase I of the CITI programme focused on providing meaningful computer training facilities through the installation of two networked labs at each VTC, complete with up-to-date software, technical training for lab administrators, and specialized training for computer instructors. Across a range of technical disciplines; Microsoft Office Suite for foundation classes and business courses, AutoCAD for engineering specializations, and graphics design applications for both engineering and graphic design specializations. During Phase I, VTC administrative staff also benefited by participating in Microsoft Office product training.

Phase II carried forward the emphasis on improving instructional capacity but also targeted VTC administration and Headquarters support activities by overhauling administrative computer services, through specialized management and computer training, and by introducing management productivity tools. Phase II also included efforts to activate market and promotional activities in an effort to make VTC programmes more responsive to market changes and to raise the profile of the UNRWA vocational training programmes.

Phase III supported the efforts to meet expanding host country curricula requirements and changing market needs that have forced broad computerization across a range of training specializations. This effort covered PC hardware upgrades at each VTC, the introduction of the Computer Information Systems course at the Damascus Training Centre (DTC), curriculum development, staff training, and the continuation of the industry consultative committees.

Standardization of computer training was achieved under phases II and III by introducing the Introduction of the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) and establishing six academies under Cisco Networking Academy Programme (CNAP).

Phase IV supported the efforts to establish the Education Department’s Information Technology Unit (ITU) in order to streamline the IT activities within the department. Also upgrading on computer lab at each VTC. Also Phase IV supported the Education Department’s actions to enforce compliance with Intellectual Property Rights as stipulated under WTO regulations by the renewal of Microsoft Gulf and East Mediterranean (GEM) agreement to license the use of a bundle of MS products on the VTC’s computers. Training and certification also were supported under Phase IV.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES OF CITI

• Replacement of old PCs at all VTs.
• Renewal of the Microsoft GLUE and Mediterranean (GEM) software leasing agreement.
• CISCO certification and training for a group of IT instructors.
• Providing technical training for trade instructors.