Skills Training for 120,000 Soldiers, 72,000 Prisoners

A total of 120,000 soldiers attended courses held by Iran's Technical and Vocational Training Organization in the last fiscal year (March 2019-20), the head of the organization said. 
“Based on the three-year memorandum of understanding signed with Skill-Learning Base of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, all soldiers must be trained by TVTO by the Iranian year ending March 2023,” Ali Owsat Hashemi was also quoted as saying by IRNA. 
Noting that some 72,000 prisoners participated in classes held by TVTO last year, the official said about 70% of first-time inmates don’t possess any skill. 
“Studies show education and vocational training in prisons reduces the odds of inmates returning to prison by 30%,” he added. 
In the last fiscal year, 1.8 million people attended courses held by TVTO in both state-run and private institutes affiliated to the organization. Forty percent of the attendees held bachelor’s degree.
TVTO, affiliated to the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, is the primary institution in charge of short-term technical and vocational training that it imparts through both public and private sectors. 
Its main task is to provide vocational training and research through 1-18 months courses in: permanent centers of public sector (600 centers nationwide), mobile training teams (in remote areas), training in prisons, military bases and industries, training in instructor training centers and private training institutions (14,000 authorized by TVTO).
TVTO trains skilled and semi-skilled labor needed by industrial, agriculture and service providers.