| RAJYA SABHA |
Review of Vocational Education Programme
To formulate the concept of vocationalisation at different levels to meet the challenge of unemployment and to reduce the overcrowding in higher education, a National Working Group was constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. V.C. Kulandaiswamy. Based on the recommendations of the Group contained in its Report of August, 1985, and also on the National Policy on Education, 1986 a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Vocationalisation of Secondary Education at +2 level was formulated and introduced during 1987-88. The State Governments were consulted while considering the recommendations for formulating the scheme. The implementation of the scheme was reviewed by (i) Working Group under the Chairmanship of Director, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)-1998; and (ii) Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Director, NCERT, 2001.
The major recommendations of these Groups include:
(i) Policy Change in approach and attitude towards the vocationalisation programme in education.
(ii) Changes in the features of the existing Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
(iii) Integration and consolidation of all ongoing vocational Education Programmes (VEPs) at different levels.
(iv) Improving linkages with trade, industry and business.
(v) Evolving a suitable mechanism for testing skills and competency certifications.
(vi) Providing facilities for upward mobility.
(vii) Making available vocational education after Class VIII.
(viii) Provision for multi skill training to enhance employability.
(ix) Curriculum design to be on multi entry and multi exit pattern.
(x) Provision for lateral entry and vertical mobility to advanced levels of competencies.
79 vocational and skill based courses are being offered at the senior secondary level by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Several similar courses are offered in different States. Whereas matching degreee level courses are not available for all these, there are more than 300 Career oriented courses offered at the undergraduate degree level under the auspices of UGC. The existing combination of subjects available at Senior Secondary level under the mainstream as well as vocational education gives choice to the students to opt for any combination of subjects in either stream. Some State Governments have introduced flexible courses/curriculum to enable the students of vocational stream to go for higher studies in various disciplines including engineering, medicine etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shri M.A.A. Fatmi in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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HB/RP/SB