Indian vocational education is due for a much needed transformation to make the country truly able to realise its demographic dividend. Currently, India's vocational education has a vast spread and includes several segments and entities. It is spanning across schools; ITIs; private training institutes; training institutes under the aegis of state government, central government and PSUs.
It is also spread across Entrepreneurship Development Institutes; polytechnics and also includes colleges and universities. Therefore, the transformation of our vocational education must target each of these segments. However, this is not an easy process, as several challenges exist Here is a look at these challenges along with potential solutions: Taking for instance the segment of schools, these are one of the key institutional structures for first level vocational education in India.
India has implemented a large-scale vocational education programme in schools. Many school systems have implemented a pre-vocational programme in grades 6 to 8 and a vocational programme in grades 9 to 12. Detailed curricula have been developed for several trades/skills ranging from unarmed Security Guard training, retail, Sewing Machine Operator, Healthcare General Duty Assistant, carpentry, plumbing, beautician, electrician to many others.
Schools have been asked to hire trainers through approved Vocational Training Partners (VTPs). Schools have also been asked to engage with certification agencies registered.