(a) the details of measures being taken to boost vocational education in the country;
(b) whether the Government proposes to set up any Special Educational Zones to serve vocational education and Skill development; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
(a) Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) have taken following initiatives to boost Vocational Education & Training in the country:
I. Creation of 22 Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (RDSDEs) and 14 no. of NSTIs extension centres by way of restructuring of existing Regional Directorates of Apprenticeship Training (RDATs) & National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) so as to monitor the activities of all types of Skill Training across all the 36 States/UTs.
II. Introduction of 13 new age trades/courses in the year 2018 to keep pace with Technological innovations viz: Technician Mechatronics, Soil testing & Crop Technician, Internet of Things, Additive Manufacturing Technician (3D Printing) and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)/Drone Pilot etc.
III. All the courses under Craftsmen Training Scheme have been made National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant.
IV. Grant of affiliation to first two ITIs for Divyangs at Ahmadabad & Kolkata and affiliation for one ITI for Army at Pune, Maharashtra.
V. Grading of ITIs
VI. Relaxation of Affiliation Norms for establishing ITI’s in Unserved Blocks
VII. Launching of Bharat Skills- Learning Management System (LMS) – a central repository for skills which provides NSQF Curriculum, course material, videos, Question Banks, Mock Tests, etc. for students and Instructors.
At present Vocational Training is imparted in 136 trades in the Industrial Training Institutes located in the States/UTs. At present, a total of 14,494 (Govt. 2876 and Private 11618) ITIs are affiliated. A total of 23.12 lakh trainees are enrolled during the session 2018-19 in ITIs in the trades of duration of one & two years.
A total of 5.83 Lakh trainees are enrolled in Apprenticeship Training since August 2016.
The National Skill Development Corporation through its 38 sector skill council has trained about 67 lakh trainees under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojana (PMKVY) in short term courses. Nearly 605 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) are also functioning in the districts of the states wherein a total of 7.39 lakh trainees have been trained.
A total of 14 India International Skill Centers are functioning across the country under the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
(b) & (c) At present, Ministry has no scheme to set up special education zones