VOCATIONALISATION  OF EDUCATION
 

5.1 The National Policy on Education has laid down the target of 10 % diversification of students at the higher secondary stage to the vocational stream by 1990. The Programme of Action envisages formula- tion of vocational programmes for various target groups, strengthening of infrastructure at various levels, apprenticeship training for the students of vocational courses, revision of recruitment rules/employ- ment policy, evaluation and monitoring of the programme. The scheme of vocationalisation approved by the Cabinet on 1st October, 1987 has the following features:

Management Structure

- Setting up of joint Council of Vocational Education for coordina- tion, policy planning and review.

- Provision of academic support by the NCERT.

- Setting up of State Council of Vocational Education (SCVE).

- Setting up of a wing for Vocational Education in the State Coun- cil of Educational Research and Training in each State.

- Creation of a Unit in District Education Officer's Office for Vocational Education - planning for schools, coordination with employers, teacher training and monitoring.

Teacher Preparation

- Development of training courses at the national level by the NCERT and by the Regional College of Education (REC), Technical Teacher Training Institutions (TTTIs) and State Councils of Education Research and Training (SCERT).

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Orientation of Trainers by the NCERT.

- Training of teachers by SCERT according to the guidelines pre- pared by the NCERT.

Academic Resource Support

- 59 vocational courses already designed by the NCERT.

- 500 vocational courses envisaged.

- Preparation of manuals for teachers and text books for students.

Teaching Arrangements

- 3-4 Vocational Courses will be offered in each school covered under the programme.

- Provision of class-room and workshop facility for each course and practice attachment in local institutions/factories/offices.

- Practice oriented teaching through practicing professionals.

- Subsidized text books to vocational students.

- Identification of vocational courses through district surveys to ensure employment potential.

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General

- Payment of Apprenticeship Stipend to 10% of vocational students.

- Change in recruitment rules and weightage in the -recruitment to vocational graduates of plus two stage.

- Coordination with vocational training arrangements of Labour Ministry (ITIs) to avoid duplication.

- Arrangements for vocational guidance to students and follow up placements in employment after education.

- Involvement of voluntary agencies for conducting non- formal vocational courses.

5.2 Pending approval of the Scheme by the Government in February, 1988, a considerable amount of advance work had been done since the beginning of 1987-88 for the implementation of the scheme. Because of this, it has been possible to sanction sizeable proposals to 16 States and UTs for implementation of the programme despite the short time available. The scheme envisaged three or four vocational courses in each of 500 schools to be sanctioned during 1987-88 so that the enrol- ment of the students for vocational courses and their teaching can begin in the academic session 1988-89. The sanctions issued would cover more than 700 schools each having three to four vocational courses as envisaged. A total of Rs. 32.25 crores of Central assist- ance has been sanctioned to the 16 States/UTs. The assistance is for setting up management-cum-academic systems in the concerned State/UT consisting of vocational wings in the Directorate, in the SCERT and in the districts, assistance to schools for teachers, construction of work shedsclass rooms and procurement of equipment for workshops, training of teachers for conducting vocational surveys to allow iden- tification of need-based vocational courses and for development of teaching-learning material. The Joint Council of Vocational Education (JCVE) at national level is being set up and the States are being pursued to set up SCVEs for close coordination and interaction among different sectors involved for planning of vocational courses, for judging their continued relevance and for linkage between Vocational Education and employment market. The guidelines for vocational sur- veys are being given to the States so that these can be conducted expeditiously and systematically. To ensure involvement of experts for development of vocational courses and their effective implementa- tion, an appropriate number of posts are being earmarked in SCERTs for being filled up by experts on contract basis. Similarly one of the two teachers sanctioned for each vocational course in the school would be a part time teacher - a serving professional who is to be inducted not on the basis of his qualifications, but on the basis of his exper- tise in the vocation. A great deal of emphasis is being given to implementing a vigorous programme for training of teachers during coming summer vacations so that the instructors of vocational courses maintain high quality.

At the national level the CABE has appointed a Committee on Vocational Education under the Chairmanship of HRM which has held its meeting in December, 1987. Considering the importance of vocational programmes for the rural areas and the girls, this Committee has appointed 2 groups, one each to work out appropriate vocational courses for girls and for rural students. Both the groups have already done a considerable amount of work.

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