Vocational courses for school students planned

KOLKATA - Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Wednesday said the central government was planning to set up a national vocational education framework to help school students who fall short of receiving higher education.

We need a national vocational education framework to empower and harness the talent of those school students who do not take up or are unable to afford the conventional higher education. We are working on this, said Sibal, while addressing a conference on Higher Education Conclave 2010 organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

The proposed vocational training will begin at the school level only and it will be of 10 levels.

Students from Class 8 onwards will be able to take up various vocational courses, like carpentry and para-medical, along with their regular courses till Class 12.

They will be provided certificates based on their work over four levels till Class 12 and six levels after Class 12, said the minister

The vocational training courses will depend on various sectors of employment. This programme will also help meet the huge shortage of skilled personnel, the minister said.