Skill Education- Need of the Hour

MVV Prasada Rao Director, Vocational Education and EDUSAT
MVV Prasada Rao Director, Vocational Education and EDUSAT
MVV Prasada Rao
Director, Vocational
Education and
EDUSAT

To make students learn skill education, CBSE has introduced five vocational courses under National Skill Qualification Framework at Senior Secondary level. In conversation with Elets News Network (ENN), MVV Prasada Rao, Director, Vocational Education and EDUSAT, CBSE, informs about the opportunities that skill education provides to children

What are the initiatives under your department focusing on Skill Development?

CBSE has introduced five Vocational Courses under National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) in 2012 namely IT, Automobile, Retail, Security and Introduction to Travel and Tourism at Secondary level classes IX and X (level1 & 2).

There are 40 vocational courses offered at senior secondary level i.e. classes IX & XII in seven different sectors. CBSE develops curriculum and content for these courses and prepares student’s manual and teacher’s handbook for the benefit of the students and teachers. Also, training programmes for teachers are organised to upgrade the teaching techniques and skills in respective subjects.

CBSE also conducts sensitisation and awareness programmes in various parts of the country to sensitise the students, principals and parents on skill education. We are also looking forward for digitalisation of materials in subjects and already developed some subjects in this direction for the benefit of the students.

The courses offered at senior secondary level have been aligned with NSQF. A new course at secondary level at level 1 Class IX is being introduced on Financial Management and Marketing from this academic year under NSQF.

How technology is leveraging and aiding the initiative for the growth of skill development in the education domain?

No doubt that the technology especially educational technology plays a very significant role in teaching and learning process. Technology is highly useful in skill-oriented courses, as these require hands on experience unlike other academic courses.

There is a shift in the classroom learning today from traditional teaching to that of the digital teaching for the benefit of students. Learning becomes easier through the use of technology and also preparation of teaching aids in proper motivation of students.

CBSE PROPOSED MATRIX OF LIFE SKILLS IN A CLASSROOM
TEACHING METHOD DESCRIPTION BENEFITS PROCESS
CLASS DISCUSSION(In small or large groups) * The class examines a problem or topic of interest with the goal of better understanding an issue or skill, reaching the best solution, or developing new ideas and directions for the group * Students learn from one another and deepen their understanding of the topic and personalise their connection to it.* Helps develop skills in listening, assertiveness, and empathy * Decide how to arrange seating for discussion
* Identify the goal of the discussion and communicate it clearly
BRAIN STORMING * Students actively generate a broad variety of ideas about a particular topic or question in a given, period of time
* Quantity of ideas is the main objective of brain storming
* Allows students to generate ideas quickly and spontaneously
* Helps students use their imagination and break loose from fixed patterns of response
* Designate a leader and a recorder
* State the issue or problem and ask for ideas
* Students may suggest any idea that comes to mind
* After brainstorming, review the ideas and add, delete, categorise
SITUATION ANALYSIS AND CASE STUDIES * ituation analysis activities allow students to think about, analyse, and discuss situations they might encounter
* Case studies are real life stories that describe in detail what happened to a community, family school, or individual
* Students explore problems and dilemmas and safely test solutions
* Case studies are powerful catalysts for thought and discussion and can be tied to specific activities to help students practice healthy responses before they find themselves confronted with a health risk
* Guiding questions are useful to spur thinking and discussion
* Facilitator must be adept at teasing out the key points and step back and pose some ‘bigger’ overarching questions
* Situation analysis and case studies need adequate time for processing and creative thinking
DEBATES * In a debate, a particular problem or issue is presented to the class, and students must take a position on resolving the problem or issue. The class can debate as a whole or in small groups * Offers a chance to practice higher thinking skills * Allow students to take positions of their choosing if too many students take the same position, ask for volunteers to take the opposing point of view
* Provide students with time to research their topic
* Do not allow students to dominate at the expenses of other speakers

How can low employability of Value Education Training (VET) graduates due to skill mismatch by worked upon?

There is a big mismatch between what the educational institutions are doing and the needs of the industry. Sufficient employment opportunities are available in our country but the children coming out of the schools are lacking specific skills to get employed. Educational institutions should look forward to integrate skill education with that of the general education so that the child acquires some skill before he leaves the educational institutions.

Skill education provides an opportunity for the child not only to get employed if required skills are obtained as per the requirement of the industry but also to become an entrepreneur and create employment for others.

What are the measures being undertaken to integrate vocational skills training into school curriculum?

It is a matter of policy. However, curriculum is being designed in accordance with the NSQF for the benefit of the students. Necessary global skills required in specific vocational course are being addressed with the involvement of concerned sector skill councils.

What are the suggestions, measures and initiatives that will drive this change forward in the VET segment?

First of all, skill education must be integrated into the general curriculum and make every child to learn specific skills at school level so as to get confidence of getting employment. We need to make skill education compulsory for all the students in school right from primary level at least to create awareness amongst the child on the importance of vocational education and develop taste and choice for skill oriented education.

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