Perspectives on skill development and vocational education

The fifth batch of “An orientation to skill development and vocational education in India” was an interactive workshop that was conducted on 4^th June 2022.  It was attended by the professionals from wide range of organizations across the country.

The workshop was attended by enthusiastic participants who were keen on updating their knowledge and understanding emerging trends in vocational education in India. They discussed various issues during the activity breaks. Everyone had a chance to share their views on vocational education and skill development. We also conducted a few activities during the session to make it more engaging and for the final activity, we asked the participants to share a short writeup with their views on a few topics.

We are glad to share their views as expressed through a post-workshop activity:

Somasundaram, Advisor, Mechery Handloom Cluster, SFURTI Scheme, MSME Ministry shared his views on the benefits of vocational education for the individual, the employers, society, the economy and the country.

Individual   

One can attain Self Confidence, Socio-economic independence and career opportunity if taken path in vocational education.

Employers      

Vocational education enables talented youths with work aptitude and workplace adaptability.

Society            

It will also contribute towards social welfare and enable to participate in sustainable social engagement.

Economy       

Vocational education enhances the economic cycle like “Learn – Earn – Spend – Save – Pay Tax and Career Progression”

Country         

Youth will become responsible to participate in constructive nation building agenda

Lakshmi Kala. N, Learning Architect, NextGen Coach, Skill Transformation Enabler also said that there are a few benefits for the Vocational Education for the Individual, Employers, Society, Economy and Country.

Individual

Vocational Education helps an individual by getting them trained in specific core skills to do a specific job. Individuals who get skilled through vocational education get the advantage of getting employment as they are job-ready from day one post completion of training.

Employers

With the increased competitive demanding market scenario, organizations have a growing need for skilled and efficient fresher resources in every sector. Hiring vocational education-trained individuals with specific skills result in high productivity.

Society

Vocational Education creates job opportunities for every individual right after completing high school. This gives hope to parents below the poverty line to realize the value of schooling as they become job-ready and start earning. This will also reduce unemployment in society.

Economy

The existence of skilled manpower is beneficial to society leading India to be enriched in economic development. This would generate a need of exporting our manpower to foreign countries at higher wages.

Country

Needless to say, a quality vocational education provided by skilled institutions/trainers will generate a young and efficient workforce, which will contribute immensely to the progress of our nation.

“There are top five challenges in implementing vocational education or skill development programmes in India” says, Mr. Subhadip Samanta, Assistant Manager-Skill Development, Guardian Education Services Private Limited

He also came forward with their solutions –

1. Wrong Attitude:

   On the idea of labour, the caste gadget has been constructed in India. The roots of the department of labour primarily based totally on lots of years of caste gadget which have deep impact on our society. People engaged in handicrafts and different physical works aren’t recognised.

• Solution: Teenagers pressure in the United States of America ought to accept schooling to alternate mind-set closer to paintings and physical labour. Good income and the potentiality of diverse vocations also can assist in converting the mind-set of the contemporary-day youths.

2. Unsuitable Medium of Instruction:
   

   In nearly all technical establishments of contemporary-day India, English is the medium of instruction. The college students who’ve surpassed the medium of Hindi or different regional languages discover it very hard to acquire technical and vocational schooling in English.

• Solution: This form of frustration additionally brings approximately a lack of money, time and energy.

3. Dearth of Teachers:

   Meritorious and worthy individuals having obtained technical and vocational schooling are usually after higher salaries and different cloth gains. Enough recognition isn’t accorded to instructors in society.

• Solution: Government can resolve this issue by attracting skilled individuals to be instructors in technical and vocational establishments.

4. Lack of continuation of schooling:

   Young individuals, in the direction of time neglect many things after joining vocational education institution. This brings loss of performance of their paintings. Part-time commands ought to be supplied to such individuals hired in jobs so that it will enhance great labour.

• Solution: Refresher courses can be prepared for the current improvement of understanding within the area of Science and Technology.

5. Dearth of Institutions:

   All technical and vocational institutions established after Independence can’t be stated to be adequate. The teenagers of the United States of America with pursuits of receiving technical schooling can desire for a brilliant future; however, such establishments are only a few in concern to this kind of big population.

• Solution: This issue might solve with the status quo of greater such establishments for offering technical and vocational schooling in any respect.

According to Ms. Radhika Singla, Assistant Professor, Desh Bhagat College, Dhuri, there are five challenges in implementing vocational education or skill development programmes

1. Ignorant mindset of parents as well as students:

The mindset of students as well as their parents towards skill training is very regressive. They generally opt for general courses and do not give much importance to these courses. They often think that these courses are generally for dropouts and they will definitely grab a great job opportunity after acquiring a degree.

• Solution: Proper guidance regarding benefits and potential of these courses should be provided.

2. Lack of awareness:

People are not generally aware about these initiatives of government. Various skill courses are available at minimum or no fees.

• Solution: Awareness through print and electronic media should be spread.

3. Skill Gap:

Huge mismatch between supply and demand of skills exists in our economy. The supply of skilled workforce often does not match with the industrial demand of skills, resulting in skill gap.

• Solution: Curriculum should be decided after considering the industrial requirements of skills.

4. Placement and post placement problems:

Due to skill mismatch, trainees often face problems in getting an adequate placement or they face difficulties after placement.

• Solution: Adequate salary packages should be encouraged to promote skill training courses.

5. High dropout rate:

Sometimes students/ trainees do not complete their course/ training as they are getting the training at free of cost, so they do not value the privilege provided to them by the government.

• Solution: Little fees should be charged to overcome the ignorant attitude of the trainees.

Also Read: Workshop participants’ views on strengthening vocational education and skill development in India https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/workshop-participants-views-on-strengthening-vocational-education-and-skill-development-in-india/

Team NSN is delighted to see such overwhelming responses from the participants of the workshop. We hope to continue our endeavours in catalysing new thought and action to strengthen the skill development and vocational education ecosystem in India.