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| Edited By: |Source: DNA |Updated: Dec 23, 2010, 03:59 PM IST
In an attempt to enhance employment opportunities for students and make them industry-ready, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), is planning to introduce professional courses in mass media, hotel management, healthcare, design, fashion, journalism, garment technology, heritage craft, visual and graphics art, and travel and tourism, to name a few.
The courses are likely to be introduced for Classes XI and XII in 2011. These will be elective and the students can pursue the subjects depending on their interest. “Not everyone would want to study medicine or engineering. Children should be given more options to choose from according to their taste and aptitude,” said Vineet Joshi, chairperson of CBSE.
“So, the board is introducing several new courses such as mass media, hotel management, healthcare, designing, fashion and travel and tourism,” added Joshi.
Joshi disclosed the latest initiative of CBSE at the two-day-long 17th National Annual Conference of Sahodaya School Complexes 2010 in Bangalore, which concluded on Tuesday. In order to start the courses and prepare their respective syllabi, CBSE has tied up with various institutes and associations, like Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for healthcare and National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFT) for the fashion design course and Hotels Association of India (HAI) for hotel management. The board had a series of discussions before choosing the subjects for professional courses. Sources at CBSE said that courses which were popular and with higher scope of employment opportunities had been chosen by the board.
“The basic idea behind introducing the courses is to prepare students, especially from the middle and lower-middle income groups, to meet the growing demand for young professionals in various sectors,” said a senior official of CBSE.
“Introduction of professional courses by CBSE in Classes XI and XII is part of the board’s latest education reform initiative. The board feels that education should not be limited to just medicine and engineering,” added the official.
The CBSE has also collaborated with the National Stock Exchange for a joint-certificate programme in financial market management. “We also plan to introduce other courses, which include subjects like web technology, biotechnology, multimedia and creative writing, which are relevant in modern times,” said the official.
The latest initiative by CBSE has been well appreciated by teachers and parents, as it will help students gain practical skills in various fields and make them industry-ready. “It is a noble initiative by CBSE. Generally students pursue professional courses only after Class XII. Now, students can hone their skills in varied professions from Class XI onwards. It will make them ready and enhance their chances of employment,” said Chitra Sharma, vice-principal, Delhi Public School (DPS) South, Bangalore.
“If some students feel they need further specialisation in professional courses, they can always opt for higher studies,” added Sharma.
Students too welcomed the move.
“I have always been interested in pursuing a course in fashion design. Now, after my Class X exam, I will take up fashion design in Class XI,” said Monica Shetty, a student of JSS Public School.
