Chandigarh : While the New Education Policy-2019, proposed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), lays emphasis on skill-based education, not many students have given first preference to skill streams while opting for subjects in Class XI.
Out of total 14,515 students, who applied for Class XI admission to government schools, only 1,199 students have mentioned the skill stream as their first preference. Only four students securing more than 90 per cent marks have opted for the streams, 67 students with marks between 90 per cent and 80 per cent, and 457 students with marks between 80 percent and 60 percent have mentioned skill streams as their preference. A major chunk of the students — 867 — who had opted for the skill streams as their first preference had scored below 60 per cent marks.
Anita, Subject Expert of Vocational Studies, UT Education Department, said: “Usually, parents have a mindset that their children should study only the conventional subjects after Class X. Vocational studies are connected to higher education as vertical mobility exists. This year, we had several students from skill courses placed in job fair.
The New Education Policy also suggests that skill courses should be linked with the secondary education. We expect the trend to shift from the conventional subjects to the skill streams.”
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Gender-based options
Of the total students opting for skill streams, the highest number — 371 — have applied for the information technology, web application stream. This is the only stream wherein students securing more than 80 per cent are interested. Of the total preferences, 260 were by male students. All 88 applicants, who opted for automobile technology, are male students. Female students have a bent towards shorthand (English), office procedures and practices — 151 out of total 167 students. All 140 preferences for beauty and wellness were from female students. Out of total 126 students preferring fashion studies, textile design and design, 109 are female students.
MHRD directive
The integration of vocational education into educational institutions will make sure that every student receives training in at least one vocation and more if they are interested. The entire four-year period in secondary school, Class IX to XII, can be used not to just expose a student to various vocations but also to help him/her to progressively build a considerable degree of expertise in the vocation of his/her choice.
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