Vocational courses to become industry-friendly

In order to make the Indian workforce more saleable in the labour market, the government is working to standardise the vocational educational system in the country and make it more lucrative.

The ministry of human resource development (MHRD) is preparing a National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) to set minimum occupational and competency standards for the vocational courses run in India.

The major reforms proposed under it includes bringing "flexibility" in vocational courses and development of competency-based curricula in collaboration with the industry to suit the job market and reduce skill shortage.

It will include certification to ensure that skills are portable and recognised across boundaries for easy mobility of the workforce.

The national framework would include a credible system of certification which will ensure that skills are recognised across sectors industries, enterprises and educational institutions.

The set standards will be mandatory for all vocational training institutions to follow and will have a detailed listing of all major activities that a worker must perform in the occupation along with the knowledge, skills and attitude that a worker must possess.

On Saturday, the Central Advisory Board of Education, a body having representation of all state governments, gave its approval to the MHRD's proposal for a qualification system having national consistency. "Many substandard vocational courses are running in the country that do not help the students in any way.

These courses are neither up to the modern needs of the industry nor do they provide for proper skill development. As a result despite having a vocational degree many students remain unfit in the job market," said an official in MHRD.