(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to upgrade workers in the education sector in Information and Communication Technology;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government has any plans to inculcate entrepreneurship in the students at the school level;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) if not, the reasons therefor?
(a) to (c) In the short-term skilling eco-system of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the Sector Skill Councils and other Awarding Bodies develop Qualification Packs for various job roles. Training in job roles like Office Assistant, Database Administrator, Lab Technician, Multifunctional Administration Executive, etc. helps in preparing certified skilled workforce, some of whom may be absorbed in the education sector as per requirement. Various aspects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education, such as knowledge of computer applications and use of information technology, forms part of the National Occupational Standards for the above job roles.
For training of trainers under the long-term skilling eco-system of MSDE, the Directorate General of Training is implementing the Crafts Instructor Training Scheme through the National Skill Training Institutes. ICT is integrated in the training of such manpower. Some of the roles where ICT forms a major component of the learning include computer hardware & networking maintenance, computer software applications and desktop publishing operator.
As far as the school system is concerned, ICT curriculum for teachers and students has been developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
(d) to (f) The New Education Policy 2020 envisages increasing the exposure to vocational education and training for school students, which in the long run would help inculcate an entrepreneurial spirit in them. Vocational education will be integrated in the education system in a phased manner in focus areas based on skills gap analysis and mapping of local opportunities.