Vocational education in schools

BANGALORE: The State Government is mulling over introducing vocational education for class 9 students from the next academic year.Speaking at the first state-level brain-storming session of the National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF), Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri said that the government is determined to introduce vocational training under NVEQ framework. Under the NVEQF programme, vocational training courses on communication skills, social and behavioural skills and job-seeking skills will be merged into the existing syllabus. The programme will be introduced from class 9 to doctorate level. “Our educational system gives degrees to enable students to seek employment. Unfortunately, these qualifications are not helping them to secure employment,” the minister said and added that the focus of the system should be on making students employable. He pointed out that sectors such as Information Technology and Bio-technology among others are getting too much attention. “This has to change. We have to train students with necessary skill sets to meet employers’ demand,” he said. Participating in the session, Associate Professor at PSS Central Institute for Vocational Education (PSSCIVE) Prof V S Mehrotra said that NVEQF will be an improved version of Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for vocational education.   A student can choose to train in any subject regardless of his chosen area of study. Also, portfolio of students will be created in electronic format to monitor individual progress.   Although participants in the session welcomed the idea of implementing vocational training, some expressed doubts over parents and private schools  approving this programme.