When I read news from the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT) about its activities, aims and achievements I end up thinking that perhaps I’m living in a wonderland where dreams magically come true. News published by the institution is usually radically different to what seems to be happening in reality and contains a lot of hyperbole. Before I explain exactly what I think let me just mention the most recent news as published by the institution.
GOTEVOT recently announced that is has planned operations with a budget that has dramatically jumped from SR4 billion to SR10 billion.
In addition, GOTEVOT stated that it would soon be running 41 specialized technical institutes for women and that the institution is working its way toward creating partnerships with companies that provide or produce jobs similar to the Saudi-Japanese Automobile Institute.
Finally GOTEVOT surprised us by announcing that there would be 80,000 Saudi technicians working in the technical field and that its institutes would annually introduce 40,000 graduate technicians into the Saudi job market. Wow.
I strongly feel that all of the above-mentioned are just plain old dreams. On my regular visits to Khaled ibn Waleed Street, Jeddah’s computer-hub, I never see a single Saudi technician. The only Saudis I chance upon are usually customers. Likewise, on my visits to car garages and electric shops I never see any Saudis working as mechanics or electricians.
This sorry state of affairs really makes me wonder where the GOTEVOT’s annual 40,000 Saudi technicians go? This is a mystery that needs answers urgently. I think it would be a good idea for GOTEVOT to include a feature article with details of statistics and facts about repair shops that employ Saudi technicians and mechanics in its yearly magazine. Doing such a thing would just reassure us that we’re not living in a wonderland.
The General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training was established 50 years ago. Could anyone draw my attention to some sort of achievements that have accomplished over the years? Or in the least prove to me that the graduates of its institutes are working in the technical field.
Last but not least, Allah knows that I love my country and I wish that dreams could come true. I trust the competencies and dedication of employees at GOTEVOT under the supervision of Ali Al-Gufais, but I just wish they could turn these dreams into reality or at least prove to the people of the Kingdom and myself that what they say is real and not just dreams.
