K.P. Murthy
CSR, Skill Development and Industry-Institute Relationship
Consultant, India
What is the course of action that needs to be taken for skill development in India?
The route that should be followed entails many aspects including collaborations, content, ‘Train The Teachers’, base vocational camps (the camps set up within the location where traditional skill are nurtured, rather than in far flung areas such as cities), forward vocational units and Open and Distance Learning (ODL).
Services need to be focused. Demand oriented approach on courses should be given priority. Digital learning portals, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), ODL, content in local languages and vocational knowledge on wheels as supplement can make the skill development happen. Life Long Learning becomes one proven way for upgrading the traditional artisans. Common Service Centres can form the front ends among others.
We have an excellent chance of success straight away, beginning with states such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, North Eastern States (NES), and others; and create this skill base of trainers.
What are the key gaps in the vocational education system in India?
The huge youth potential of India need to be exposed to Vocational Education and Training- VET. There has been a vocational technology isolation in India from what has been going on in the skill-rich countries like Germany, Netherlands, Australia and Finland. The situation is uniform in almost all the states in our country.
Many of the key gaps include vocational teachers, curriculum, equipment, consumables, motivation and understanding of ‘Hands-on’ training in skill development. Industrial Training Institutes are away from the major segment of services.
Education need to give its due share of attention to practice real time applications and move away from the bulk of ‘Chalk & Talk’.
Do you think that there is a need for standardising the training programmes being conducted across India in Public Private Partnership (PPP) model?
PPP is no doubt important but the clarity of win-win has to be sold. Quality has to be ensured that is in-turn to be ensured through standardised framework of training. SMEs and MNCs are very rich resources with whom collaborations can be carried out. Civil society can greatly scale up the skill development. This is a very special advantage in India that needs to be leveraged.
How important is the role of technology in the skill development initiatives?
Technology application for skill development, income generation and livelihoods is the key factor. It has a great scope in India, especially, with many upcoming infrastructure projects. Indian work inclusive of quality will put our country on the skill map.
What do you think are the emerging sectors in skill development and employment that will positively impact the lives of the youth population?
Globalisation makes the world into one village, hence, acquiring the world skill becomes more important. We are nowhere in the world skill competitions. This calls for rigorous training and revision of our talent resource pool.
The youth of our country can succeed in all the skill just as they have proved to be in the sector of IT. Some of the emerging sectors in skill development include Logistics (Drivers), Housing, Basic Engineering skill, Automotive Technicians, Energy(solar) Installers, Electronics, BPOs, Medicare, Hospitality and so on.
Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Australia, Korea have great success stories. In India we see the great vocational centers at Bosch and Toyota. CII- Bosch Afgan training is an outstanding example that I have been associated with. ‘Train
