KV Correspondent

DSEK fails to introduce vocational courses in high schools

DSEK fails to introduce vocational courses in high schools
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Scheme though approved failed to equip students with technical skills

Srinagar: The government initiative to introduce vocational courses in the government high schools has fallen flat owing to the poor implementation of the scheme by the school education department over the past years.
The courses were introduced under erstwhile centrally sponsored scheme-RashtriyaMadhyamikShikshaAbhiyan (RSMA) scheme in 2012. The component was revived by the then education minister in 2015. “But the initiative has fallen flat as the department couldn’t make it sustain in the schools,” an official said.
Earlier the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had asked the state government to identify around 132 government schools for introduction of vocational courses in the schools from ninth standard, however there was no headway in the implementation of the scheme in JK state.
“The introduction of Vocational Education from class 9th onwards was supposed to equip students with skills commensurate to the market requirements,” an official said.
He said the department had identified more than 70 Government High Schools for the purpose and directed the concerned school head masters to provide admissions in the schools soon after the declaration of 8th class annual results.
“The department had decided to start admission for two vocational courses in each school identified by the government but later the initiative didn’t work as the authorities failed to draft a policy. Non-availability of teachers and infrastructure marred the initiative badly,” the official said.
The courses were approved by MHRD in the 40th Project Approval Board Meeting for RMSA scheme with JK state which was held in 2015. The courses include IT &ITeS, Retail, Tourism, Healthcare, Automobile Repair and Security.
“The school authorities were directed to enroll 25 students against each course on JK Board of School Education (BOSE) format and conduct aptitude test of the students in case the number of application was above 25,” the official said.
An official said these components existed since the launch if the erstwhile RMSA scheme in JK state, however, the components were shelved thus marring the skills of students.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo meanwhile, said the department had enrolled the students for these vocational courses and efforts were given to introduce these courses in other schools as well.
“There are some problems in making this initiative sustainable but we are looking into it,” he said.


KV Correspondent

Kashmir Correspondent cover all daily updates for the newspaper

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