VOCATIONALISATION AT THE PLUS 2 LEVEL IN THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
I. Present Position During 1977-78, 13 institutions in three districts were chosen. As many as 21 courses had been introduced on the basis of their usefulness for both self-employment and for employment in the private or public sector. A list has been enclosed along with the regulation course of study and scheme of examination for these courses (Appendix I). Ten institutions were chosen to introduce 4 courses each. In one institution where the management was running a Medical College and an Engineering College at Manipal, 8 vocational courses were introduced. Two institutions were identified as capable of taking 2 courses each.
II. Criteria for Selection (a) Enthusiasm of the Principal and the Management and their capability to operate the scheme successfully.
(b) Their belief in vocationalisation as a useful means of diversification of training programmes and cater to the needs of the society.
(c) Infrastructure available in the matter of either equipment needed or availability of trained staff in the College near by or both.
(d) One Rural college was specially located in each of the 3 districts where the chances of success were highest.
(e) One Womens' College in Bangalore was selected for implementation of the programme.
III. Latest Plan for Vocationalisation(a) NCERT forms were sent to all the non-farm establishments to gauge the potential for growth with the data available from them. The response has been very poor as expected. However, the available data has been collected and analysed whether it indicates any direction for the potential growth of job opportunities in the area.
(b) District Development Programmes, other approved schemes of the districts and the statistics available in the various departments and rural and other develop- mental programmes planned in the area were analysed and the possible areas of growth in (a) Agriculture, (b) Industries, (c) Banking and other Commercial activities ; (d) Requirements of health and other services arrived at. The District survey officers also met many knowledgeable people in the Taluks and many Industrialists and other interested in the development of the districts and after discussion with them the trends in-
(a) changes in the economic power-base;
(b) general economic activity and its direction
(c) the necessity to aid the existing vocational activities in the area by the introduction of courses in Science & Technology connected with them.
(c) The local talents available and how a teaching and training programme in vocationalisation would help their improvement in the locality using the equipment and institutions set up in the private or public sector in the area. On the basis of the above the survey officers have reported a number of areas in which vocational courses could be introduced. This has been indicated in the Annexure II from sl. No. 26 to 45.
Vocationalisation has been fairly acceptable to the population of Karnataka in general and the parents and students in particular since for pursuing academic course the requirements of academic excellence has shown a steep gradient in the recent days necessitating those with
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average intelligence to pursue courses which are suitable for their special talents which lie in them. A large no. of courses are being planned afresh since the demand for skilled personnel in a large no. of vocational fields is a reality.
It is proposed to introduce during 78-79 vocational courses in 44 institutions throughout Karnataka. One in each of the 19 districts with one more for the city of Bangalore and 24 other institutions in six districts where the surveys have been completed at the rate of 4 institutions per district. Efforts would be made to keep the criteria stated above in mind while selecting the institutions. But the following additional points will have to be borne in mind :
(a) One Junior College near every one of the Medical Colleges will be chosen to introduce Health Oriented courses only (HE 1.01 to 1.08).
(b) One Junior College near every Engineering College (Polytechnic) or Junior Technical School may also be similarly chosen for introducing courses related to technical education making use of the facilities available there.
(c) One Rural college will be chosen specially in each district choosing vocations likely to be popular with them especially in backward and underdeveloped rural parts.
(d) Attempts should be made to choose one Junior College for Girls in implementing this programme in each district.
(e) Some special courses such as TE 5.01, 5.02, 7.03, will be introduced where local talent and industry exist.
(f) General courses such as B 1.06, 1.07 will be introduced in every district.
(g) It is felt that in some courses such, as Medical and Engineering Courses the training facilities available will limit the intake of the students for the course to keep the efficiency of the training programme.
(h) It is also felt that a large number Eke 4 courses involving 100 students cannot be introduced in all the districts since the total no. of students taking admission at the 1st year PUC normally is only about 120 on an average. There, are many institutions where the total strength at the 1st Year PUC is less than 100. Hence it is proposed to introduce not more than two courses in each institution to encourage slightly larger no. of institutions to serve a larger area of the districts and augment efficiency and keep up the morale of all the concerned.
IV. Special features (a) The courses are being introduced in place where considerable enthusiasm both in the management and by the principal is apparent.
(b) Only courses of 2 year duration have been identified up to now, So that they can fit in at the +2 stage of the 10+2+3 pattern.
(c) The part I of the course namely 2 languages is common with the academic stream and constitutes 8 hours of work load per week.
(d) The vocational course forms the main feature of study with about 5 to 8 hours of theory relevant to the appreciation of vocationalisation and 15 to 12 hours of practical work. The course is organised in a semester scheme of 4 semesters of 4 months duration each, with a work load of 18 to 24 hours per week. Attempt is made to take one full time teacher and 2 part time people associated with the employers in the area or experts available in the locality. Some of the courses lend themselves highly for self-employment and the learning skills are given due emphasis.
However, both Government of India and the Government of the State will have to face the problem of providing employment for at least 50 per cent of the students trained in various- vocations listed in Annexure II. It is imperative that the diplomas issued by the State Council of Vocational Education at the end of the 2 year course should be recognised as "Appropriate Educational Technology" and recognised for the purposes of recruitments to subordinate services in the various departments.