The HRM Wing of the Department of the Auditor-General
of Pakistan under the Deputy Auditor-General (Training),
being the chief of the Training Component of PIFRA, had
envisioned a radical change in the wake of PIFRA Reforms,
designed to bring about changes in accounting, auditing,
information management and human resource management.
The Training Component is a very important segment of
the overall PIFRA Project. The recognition of having a
trained and professional resource base as a fundamental
pre-requisite for the success of PIFRA reforms led to
important and far-reaching initiatives by the HRM Wing.
Moreover,
a well trained and professional manpower would inevitably be the
engine of change in the Department, and during the year 2004-2005
and till date, AATI and its regional training institutes are actively
involved in delivery of PIFRA training and implementation of Training
Component under PIFRA-I in addition to implementation of its regular
training plan. The training component is intended to move the
department towards professional training. Training needs were
specifically required to be changed after the launching of the
PIFRA project. Some of the important outputs under Training Component
that have been achieved so far include, Comprehensive Training
Plan (CTP); Training Needs Assessment (TNA); Portfolio of Training
Courses; Developing, Testing, Revising the Comprehensive Training
Packages; Training of Trainers (TOT); Management and Quality Assurance
of the Training Function; Report on Career Progression (Standards
& Competencies); and Evaluation Report on: Probationer Training
Program and SAS Program.
Being
the training arm of Pakistan Audit Department, the Audit &
Accounts Training Institute has been made a key player in achieving
the government’s objectives of imparting quality and job-focused
training to the employees of all government organizations. The
AATI has adopted a new training methodology since 2004 to ensure
a learner centered training. This has redefined our role and now
we focus on office specific skill building. In this new approach
we have developed Field Office Training Centers (FOTCs) where
the office specific training is imparted in a very cost effective
manner. The Institute is presently providing long courses training
to the two batches of Probationers of PA& AS who are being
trained on the newly revised syllabus.
This
new syllabus was designed under the guidance of the Training Wing
of the Auditor-General's office to introduce professionalism at
the induction level among the officers of the PA&AS to equip
young officers with the necessary knowledge and skills required
to implement the changes envisaged under the PIFRA Training Component.
Some of the salient features of the new syllabus being taught
to the Probationers include CIMA Foundation Level syllabi for
core subjects like Financial, Cost Accounting, Business Mathematics
and Economics, New Audit Manual and New Accounting Manual and
IT, which were prepared under the PIFRA Training Component. The
second long course is being run in Quetta namely the Finance Managers
Course. The training of SAS accountants have been made more professional
as the training is imparted by PIPFA, which has replaced the SAS
Examination, and the AATI is closely monitoring this training
and providing assistance where necessary. The replacement of SAS
with PIPFA is a revolutionary step in the wake of new challenges
in the Department.
The new Calendar of Courses for the year July 2005 to June 2006
has been designed in a manner that it incorporates all the short
courses recommended by the Comprehensive Training Plan (CTP).
While structuring this Calendar we have ensured to set our priorities
in the light of training needs under PIFRA/CTP. This calendar
has courses on PIFRA reforms, which are made part of the Continued
Professional Education (CPE). The courses include NAM, CoA, SAP-R3,
FAM, DDOs, DAO staff training and many other professional courses.
The
AATI has also developed “Help Desks” at various important
offices where the trainers at given times visit and provide assistance
to the staff. Another strategy of imparting effective training
adopted by AATI is “Training –at-doorsteps”
where the trainers from AATI visit the far flung areas and impart
training.
We
would like the readers of this Calendar to please provide us suggestions
for their training needs so that we may accommodate and develop
highly skilled financial managers in the Government departments.
