Sibal said that the vocational plan "would help school students who
are unable to complete higher education or the students who are not
academically bright but have other skill sets." Last week, Indian Union
HRD minister Kapil Sibal announced that his government wants to
establish a separate board similar to the Central Board of Secondary
Education (CBSE) that will promote vocational education in India. The
government also wants to create a national vocational education
framework by mid-2011.
Sibal said that the vocational plan "would help school students who are
unable to complete higher education or the students who are not
academically bright but have other skill sets." He went on to say, "We
are planning to create a separate CBSE board for vocational education.
The framework in this regard would be set up by mid next year. There
will be a different curriculum for vocational education where students
can choose the subjects depending on their interest from cooking to
automobile engineering."
The proposed new vocational training will start at the school level and
include 10 levels of education. Students from Class Eight and upward
will be able to take on various vocational courses, such as carpentry or
para-medical, along with their regular courses until Class Twelve. This
program is expected to help alleviate the shortage of skilled workers in
India.
Sibal said the program, if implemented, will empower children by
teaching them important skills and providing an inclusive education. He
called such a change the "need of the hour."
Sibal spoke about upcoming goals saying, "We have to strengthen
education system in the country. We are all set to achieve the critical
mass by 2020. For this we have to promote vocational education," and he
added that the universities should enable a seamless transition of these
students from the senior secondary level to the undergraduate level.
India is lagging behind the developed nations in the realm of education.
About 220 million Indian children go to school, but only 14 million of
them reach college. In developed nations, around 80 percent of children
attain college education, compared to a global average of 23 percent.
"We have to strengthen education system in the country. We are all set
to achieve the critical mass by 2020. For this we have to promote
vocational education," Sibal said. He added that universities should
help to ensure a smooth transition of students from senior secondary
level to the undergraduate level.