According to an official release on January 8, the state has decided to introduce vocational education at the secondary school level from the next academic session.
The vocational courses will be launched under Rashtriya Madhyamik Sikshya Abhiyam (RMSA) for skill development and upgradation of students, official sources said.
“Vocational courses will be introduced at 30 schools in the state from the next academic session on an experimental basis,” said school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra after announcing the programme.
The government will gradually cover all secondary and higher secondary schools in the state in a phased manner.
“Students will be scrutinized from Class IX in high schools to identify who will take the conventional education and who will be interested in vocational education. The effort was to open an additional option before students who now have to either opt for arts, science or commerce streams,” said Mishra.
Vocational courses will be offered in two subjects in Information Technology (IT and automobile technology. Students can select any one subject. The curriculum of the course will be on the basis of National Vocational Educational Qualification Framework and the course curriculum will be based on the lines of national curriculum.
The vocational/technical stream will carry a national-level certification.
School and mass education secretary Usha Padhee said, “It is necessary to give vocational training to the students to bring down the dropout rates that will provide them employment opportunities.”
There are also plans to open the course in 100 model schools to be operational in the state from the next academic session, she said.
There will be four levels for each class till standard XII after which the students, who have passed out, may join bachelors in vocational courses at the degree level.
“There are plans to include Plus II in school education under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Sikshya Abhiyan. So, students who will chose vocational courses at the high school level, can continue at the higher secondary level as well,” said senior officer of school and mass education department.
On closure of schools with less than five and ten students in the state, Padhee said, “If 25 students take admission in the school at a time, the schools may reopen again. When closed, the furniture of these schools can be used by related villagers. Meanwhile, community leaders would try to motivate children and urge their parents to send them to school again.”
She also stressed on use proper implementation of Right to Education (RTE) Act in the state.
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