Lok Sabha Question No. 3494 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-08
Subject: Skill Training to Students
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3494 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2022

## Skill Training to Students

## 3494.   SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the Skill Development needs to be included in the curriculum  in  the  country  to  make  the  school  education  employment  oriented  and  if  so,  the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is aware that most of the students of the rural areas along with those residing in tier I and tier II cities are moving towards innovation and entrepreneurship;

(c) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to provide skill training with education to every  student  in  all  the  parts  of  the  country  particularly  in  Gujarat  to  nurture  the  idea  of innovation; and

(d) the  number  of  children  having  access  to  education  and  skill  training  out  of  the  total estimated  population  in  the  age  group  of  3-23  years  throughout  the  country,  especially  in Gujarat?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a)  to  (b):     Yes  sir.  Considering  the  importance  of  Skill  Development  among  the  School Students,  the  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  (DoSEL)  is  implementing  an initiative  of  Vocationalisation  of  School  Education  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  Samagra Shiksha throughout the country. The scheme aims at integrating Vocational Education with  general  academic  education  in  all  Secondary/Senior  Secondary  schools;  enhancing  the employability and entrepreneurial abilities of the students, providing exposure to  work environment; and generating awareness amongst students about various career options so as to enable them to make a choice in accordance with their aptitude, competence and aspirations.

Under the Scheme, NSQF compliant vocational courses are offered to the students from class 9th to 12th in the schools covered under the scheme. At the Secondary level i.e. Class IX

and X, vocational modules are offered to the students as an additional subject. At Sr. Secondary level, i.e. Class XI and XII, vocational courses are offered as a compulsory (elective) subject.

Employability Skill module has been made a mandatory part of the vocational Courses. It consists  of  Communication  Skills,  Self-Management  Skills,  Information  and  Communication Technology Skills, Entrepreneurship Skills and Green Skills.

The  National  Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020  has  also  given  special  emphasis  on vocational  education  and  skill  development.  Integration  of  vocational  education  with  general education and mainstreaming of vocational education have been identified as the key reforms in the  education  system  of  the  country.  In  order  to  fulfil  various  objectives  of  NEP,  the  existing scheme  of  Samagra  Shiksha  has  been  revamped  and  various  new  interventions  relating  to Vocational Education have been incorporated. Some of them are as under:

-  Coverage  of  Vocational  Education  has  been  expanded  to  cover  Government  aided schools also in addition to Government Schools.
-  Hub and Spoke Model of Vocational Education has been introduced providing for the utilization  of  the  infrastructure  available  in  the  Hub  schools  by  the  students  of  nearby schools (spoke schools) for vocational training.
-  Exposure of pre-vocational education at Upper Primary level.
-  Internships,  bagless  days  etc.  have  been  included  under  Innovation  component  of Samagra Shiksha.

Under  the  Scheme,  a  module  on  entrepreneurship  development  has  been  made  a  core component of the vocational education programme from Grades 9 to 12 for nurturing innovation and creativity amongst the students.  The module has been oriented toward the development of creative  and  innovative  skills  amongst  students  so  that  they  can  apply  new  knowledge  to  the existing work and create new ideas and values.

(c): Under the Scheme  of Samagra Shiksha, Central Government  provides financial assistance to all States and UTs including the state of Gujarat for engaging Vocational Trainers and  their  induction/in-service  training,    engagement  of  resource  persons  and  Guest  Faculty, purchase and maintenance of Tools and equipment, raw materials, purchase of books, software, e-learning  material,  hands  on  skill  training,  field  visits,  on  the  job  training  to  students, Assessment  and  Certification, Office Expenses/  Contingencies  (including expenditure on awareness & publicity, guidance and counseling).

In addition, Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE),  a  constituent  unit  of  NCERT  develops  learning  outcomes-based  curricula  and textbooks. It also arranges in-service orientation programmes for key functionaries of State/UT, capacity building programmes on vocational pedagogy, development of modules and videos for capacity building of trainers, preparation of Digital resources etc. Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) are also involved in Assessment and Certification of School Students. State and UTs are free to engage Vocational Trainers directly or through the Vocational Training Providers empanelled by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

(d): The  Government  of  India  is  implementing  various  schemes  to  improve  access  to education  and  skill  training  to  cater  to  the  need  of  students.  As  per  the  data  maintained  by various Ministries/Departments, a total of 32.93 crore students in the age group of 4-23 years are enrolled for education which includes the enrolment of 1.46 crore students in Gujarat.

Under  the  Scheme  of  Samagra  Shiksha,  18779  schools  are  approved  for  providing vocational  education  which  includes  934  Schools  of  Gujarat.  In  addition,  13468  Schools  are approved  for  providing  exposure  of  Vocational  Education  at  Upper  Primary  level  to  Schools students which includes 491 schools of Gujarat. As per reported information, 18.83 lakh students are  enrolled  in  Schools  for  vocational  education  which  includes  22,788  School  Students  in Gujarat.

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