World Youth Skills Day - PIN to Support Youth through Technical Vocational Education and Training in Syria

Lack of access to education

Syria is one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world today. Over 13.5 million Syrians are estimated to be in need of some humanitarian assistance. With 4.8 million Syrians having been forced to leave the country, and 6.6 million displaced internally, the Syrian conflict has also become the largest displacement crisis globally. As a result of the violence, destruction and displacement, children and youth have missed out on years of quality schooling and training, the long-term consequences of which include: early marriage for girls; increased anti-social behaviour and the radicalisation of boys; lack of employment prospects and diminished community resilience.

This lack of access to education and opportunities has also been a driving factor behind the exodus of youth from the country. For youth who have remained in the country, there are limited possibilities to acquire relevant, practical education and training which would facilitate their reintegration into the job market and more broadly into society, especially in a post-conflict future.

Pressure to earn money

Ali Masri, PIN’s Capacity Building Coordinator in Syria, explains that: ‘Six years ago, before the current crisis in Syria, the majority of students used to complete their studies at universities and institutes spending five or six years studying since the cost of attending these was not high. Some, however, went to technical, industrial, commercial and vocational schools in order to learn professions like mechanics, metal works, carpentry, sewing, embroidery and electrical works.’ Today, however, children and youth are faced with serious pressure to earn money for their families.

Ali goes on to explain that this pressure to earn money in today’s circumstances mean that ‘many families are sending their children to do hard labour such as porterage and working in local workshops and factories under very difficult conditions. Of course they do this purely for the sake of money; they want their children to help contribute to the household income. This is one of the many reasons why PIN is going to start Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres the purpose of which will be to improve and enhance youths’ skills and capacities and teach them a profession in a relatively short period of time.’

The primary target group for TVET provided through this project will be youth aged between 15 and 22, as PIN aim to decrease the risk of youth recruitment and increase their technical capacity; whilst also providing a larger pool of skilled workers to fulfil the demand for jobs which can be supported through the local markets.

As such PIN intend to initially support 2 TVET centres, accommodating around 250 TVET students, by providing teaching and learning materials to staff and students; rehabilitation and safety works to the buildings; and covering basic operational costs, and other material needs.

Teachers in the TVET centres and schools will also receive monthly incentives as well as training and capacity building the focus of which will be: education in emergencies; participatory teaching methodologies; classroom observations and monitoring learning outcomes; and psychosocial support. Based on needs assessments and set eligibility criteria, a certain number of students will also receive support to participate in the TVET training. As such PIN will provide students with food vouchers and will offer transport stipends to students living outside a TVET coverage area.

Micro Grants for 250 high achieving TVET students

To ensure the further development and utilization of skills learned, as part of future projects PIN will further support the centres’ graduates. They will receive business training in leadership, accounting, and management as well as access to Micro Grants. 250 high achieving students who have completed their training, and submitted a successful business plan will be eligible to receive a grant to support them in launching a micro-business. Whilst the primary focus of these initiatives is young people aged 15-22, PIN also understand the importance of involving the wider community. As such under future projects PIN will initiate outreach and provide classes and workshops for parents, community members and prospective TVET students, to better link TVET centres to secondary schools and the wider community.

Abdullah Al-Ghali, a seventeen year old student, took part in a PIN TVET Student Preferences Needs Assessment. Abdullah was previously a student at an industrial TVET secondary school in Idlib. Abdullah explained some of the challenges facing young people trying to develop practical skills in Syria today: ‘I used to go to the industrial school but this is not possible now, no teaching staff are available, the tools and equipment are also not available; most of the equipment was damaged in the bombardment. The advantage of such a school is that we learn something practical without much focus on theoretical things – which is important these days. I am interested to joining TVET training centres because I can learn new skills and will have better chances of finding a job after finishing the trainings. I think the required trainings and workshops nowadays should be about fixing solar power panels, carpentry and metal works.’

With the generous support of the European Commission, PIN will begin implementing this project in the coming months.