RIYADH, 30 January 2007 -- As many as 1,300 young Saudis, including 300 disabled, are to be given technical and vocational training under an agreement signed between Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT).

The accord was signed by STC Chairman Mohammed Al-Jasser and GOTEVOT Governor Ali Al-Ghafis in the presence of STC President Saud ibn Majid Al-Daweesh at a ceremony here on Sunday. The agreement will facilitate a joint working program to train and rehabilitate young Saudis.

"The STC will spend SR25 million on this project which would help develop Saudi human resources," Al-Jasser, who is also the deputy governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, told newsmen following the signing ceremony.

Besides the 300 youths with special needs who will be participating in the two-year program, other beneficiaries of the project will include children of soldiers who died in service, orphans and children whose parents are serving long jail sentences.

Al-Jasser pointed out that his company would set up a fully equipped laboratory at the GOTEVOT headquarters to provide blind youths vocational training to suit their aptitudes and capabilities.

Citing these community-oriented projects, Al-Jasser said that they come under Al-Wafa Education Program geared to help the community. The STC helped the Ministry of Health build 28 primary health care centers throughout the Kingdom, he noted.

Describing it as a major project with private sector participation, Al-Ghafis indicated that these youths would be trained in technical and vocational fields to cater to the opportunities available in the local job market.

"On completion of their programs, these youths will become useful citizens in society," he said, adding that they will be trained in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Qasim, Abha, Jizan and Hail.

Under the program, the selected youths will be trained in assembling of computers, printer maintenance, repairing electronic appliances, computer programming, accounts, cash machines, sales and printing in Braille system.

By Mohammed Rasooldeen

© Arab News 2007