Lok Sabha Question No. 2390 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Vocational Training in School Curriculum
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2390 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

## Vocational Training in School Curriculum

2390: Shri B.B.PATIL:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to integrate vocational training with the school curriculum  for  revitalising  the  education  imparted  in  schools  in  order  to  have  better  job creation in the country;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  measures  to  introduce  cluster  development mechanism, which could align the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises with job creating agenda; and

(d) if so, the response of the Government in this regard?

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

(a) & (b):  The Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing the scheme of Vocationalisation of School Education under the umbrella of 'Samagra Shiksha - an integrated scheme for school education', a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. 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.  The scheme covers Government and Government aided schools. The  scheme  has  a  provision  for  providing  exposure  to  vocational  education  to  students  of Classes VI to VIII with an aim to provide opportunities to the students to orient themselves with  the  skills  required  for  the  various  occupations  in  a  sector  and  to  equip  them  to  make informed choices while selecting their subjects in higher classes.

Under  Vocational  Education  component  of  'Samagra  Shiksha',  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. Vocational Courses are selected on the basis  of  notional  hours,  age  &  educational  qualification  prescribed  and  suitability  for  school students. The State Governments have been advised that Vocational courses are to be treated at par with other academic subjects and accorded a similar status in the scheme of subjects.

Till    March  2021,  12813  schools  have  been  approved  under  the  scheme  out  of  which  the scheme  has  so  far  been  implemented  in  11,710  schools  with  the  reported  enrolment  of 15,63,319  students.  For  the  year  2021-22,  1622  new  schools  have  been  approved  for Vocational Education under Samagra Shiksha taking the total number of schools approved for implementing the scheme to 14435 schools.

(c)  &  (d):  The  Ministry  of  MSME  implements  Micro  and  Small  Enterprises  Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) to enhance competitiveness and productivity of Micro and Small Enterprises. Under the scheme, central grant is provided for setting up of Common Facility Centres and Creation and up-gradation of industrial area/estates.

*****