VIENNA, Va., May 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Afghanistan Technical Vocational Institute (ATVI), built and administered by Knowlogy International, has opened its doors to 600 new students from Kabul and other urban and rural regions in Afghanistan. The Institute is the first post-war vocational school designed to educate both men and women in skills critical to the future of Afghanistan. The school expects to eventually graduate 5,000 students per year.

ATVI was developed in response to the Afghan Ministry of Education's desire to address Afghanistan's critical skill shortfall in construction, horticulture, automotive mechanics, and information technology. Presently, jobs in these areas are being filled by foreign labor, or simply not at all.

"The Institute will help graduates gain employment and salaries far above their current level, and place them in positions of responsibility so they can take a more active role in the rebuilding of Afghanistan," said Knowlogy Chairman A. Huda Farouki, "It is so encouraging to see young people coming out in droves to take advantage of this opportunity."

The brand new facility is the first of its kind in Afghanistan, with 17 classrooms, seven workshops, a large vehicle maintenance facility, and state- of-the-art computers.

The concept of ATVI was developed by A. Huda Farouki, Chairman of Knowlogy International, and Ishaq Shahryar, former Afghan Ambassador to the United States and now Chairman of ATVI. The Institute is led by its Director, former Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan and Afghan Minister of Education, Sardar Mohammed Roshan.

About Knowlogy

Knowlogy International (KI) is the leading provider of training and development programs and related services worldwide. Since its inception in 1995, KI has been creating and supplying training solutions to governments, businesses, organizations, and educational facilities on a global scale.

Contact Beth Parker bparker@hoopesstrategies.com (202) 955-5578

CONTACT: Beth Parker, +1-202-955-5578, bparker@hoopesstrategies.com, for
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