Maharashtra is all set to introduce the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) in schools. The state government’s Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for full-fledged implementation of vocational education in schools in Maharashtra as per NSQF.
NSQF-compatible vocational courses for class IX to XII will be introduced and integrated from the academic year 2015-16. To begin with, the project will start at level I (class IX) in about 350 government schools in the state with an aim to make the students employable when they complete secondary education. Senior officials of RMSA said equal weightage will be given to urban and rural areas while identifying schools with 10 institutions per district to get covered.
The MoU states that “These courses will be industry-driven with the curriculum developed and approved by Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (Bhopal). The courses will be based on the national occupational standards set by the sector skill councils approved by the NSDC in the fields of automobile, healthcare, retail, multi-skills, beauty and wellness and sports. In future, more streams can be added under this scheme on mutual consent”.
It may be mentioned that the requirements for a government job will see a significant change by 2020. The NSQF, a competency-based framework that organizes all qualifications according to a series of level of knowledge, skills and aptitude, is going to play a major role as it will become mandatory for a government job by 2020. NSQF is expected to integrate vocational education, skill training, general education, technical education and the job market.
Speaking in this context, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajiv Pratap Rudy had recently said that by 2020, an educational qualification will not be enough, and one would need a NSQF to apply for any vacancy in the government.
