In today’s world, where one is posed with challenges of varying degrees, applying your knowledge is steadily becoming an indispensable asset. Inculcating the art of application and promoting skill-based education whilst doing away with the quintessential methods of learning bookish knowledge is something that students across the globe need to adapt to quickly. 

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Acclimatising India to vocational learning can assist the development of employable skills. These effectively mean that Indian students must harbour quality skill sets and adequate training in order to achieve employment. That said, recent studies have shown that 90 per cent employment opportunities demand these skills, however, only 20 per cent graduates in India eventually get employed. Thus, this exemplifies the urgency of a re-jiggering in India’s fundamental education system. Globalisation coupled with the entry of several foreign companies in India, employers are seeking skill-based graduates including the ability to communicate effectively, creativity, interpersonal sensitivity, and basic teamwork. Hence, putting skill-based education at the forefront can broaden every student’s perspective.

Speaking of imbibing a multitude of skills, the system needs to take baby steps to bring students up the learning curve. Encouraging fruitful group discussions rather than having the faculty simply lecture the students has proved to be more beneficial to students, as it has boosted their morale and done wonders to their self-confidence. This statement holds true across most education boards in India, where the only craft of the students’ honed is the craft of memorising and thoroughly learning the book content, and not necessarily addressing or relating its value to their lives and in the real world. These learning strides can be priceless and decisive for Indian students seeking admission into foreign universities. For instance, the International Baccalaureate (IB) offers light courses on topics such as sports, exercise and health science which can provide the student an unerring glimpse into their desired field of human nutrition, thus thrusting their odds of a successful career. Needless to mention, a skill-driven formulae for education can spawn the leaders of tomorrow, who can stamp their authority in the outside world and leave an indelible mark by applying their ingeniousness and knowledge into corporate or political affairs, for the betterment of the nation.  

These changes can be triggered by formulating new school curricula, which lays added emphasis on a hands-on approach towards learning. This exposes the students to a plethora of courses, in stark contrast to the rigorous, unrelenting ideology of mainstream education. Skill-based courses are more likely to pique the interest of students who aren’t cut out for exhausting degrees. Skill training in conjunction with academics is essential to compete at the global stage. 

The startling statistics that roughly 95 per cent of India’s active labour force lacks formal vocational skills elucidates the underlying cause of unemployment for Indian students in the near future. The Indian education system needs to put the theoretical aspects of learning on the backseat and give importance to building skills, simply because knowing is one thing, and doing is another.

The writer is a Class 10 student of Garodia International Centre for Learning, Mumbai.