Question : VOCATIONAL COURSES IN COLLEGES

(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce vocational courses in colleges and open 1000 community colleges to give a major push to skill development;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Union Government has received any proposals from state Governments including Tamil Nadu and Assam for opening of skill development colleges and if so, the details thereof, State- wise;

(d) the amount allocated by the Government for this purpose; and

(e) whether there is any law to enforce industrial establishments to take students who come out of vocational colleges and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): The University Grants Commission (UGC) has reported that it is implementing two schemes for skill development, namely: Bachelor of Vocational (B.Voc) Degree Programme and Community Colleges. As on date there are 127 Institutions approved by UGC for offering B.Voc. Degree Programme and 157 Community Colleges are being run in the country. The Commission has approved to introduce new scheme namely Deen Dayal Upadhyaya KAUSHAL Kendras during XIIth Plan period which will offer courses from Certificate to research level in the Country. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had also approved 83 Community Colleges for Polytechnics in 2013-14.

The UGC has set a target of covering 37500 learners in 500 institutions between 2014-15 & 2018-19 under its scheme of Community College. A further target of covering 50000 learners in 500 institutions between 2014-15 & 2018-19 under the scheme of B.Voc Degree has also been set by the UGC. The UGC has also resolved to set up 100 Deen Dayal Upadhyaya KAUSHAL Kendras during the XIIth Plan period.

(c): The scheme of Community Colleges does not support establishment of independent vocational colleges and no such proposals have, therefore, been called by UGC. The Community Colleges, to offer skill based vocational courses, are to be established within existing infrastructure of a University or a College like a department. Similarly, existing polytechnics are being provided support by the AICTE for setting up of Community Colleges.

(d) : In view of above does not arise.

(e) : The UGC has reported that no such information is available with it.