Thiruvananthapuram: The fate of vocational higher secondary education sector in the state hangs in the balance, though Education Minister C. Raveendranath has expressed confidence over its continuance. But the central government has insisted on the integration of both higher secondary and vocational higher secondary sections. Mr Raveendranath told reporters on Thursday that the National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF) would be implemented in the state soon. He also allayed the fears about any crisis in the vocational higher secondary education sector.
The NVEQF is part of the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) proposed by the Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry. It envisages the integration of at least four years of vocational training with formal education from Class IX. This will also offer students the option of pursuing long-term, non-conventional degree courses to acquire the skill sets sought by industry. The new policy, discussed with state governments, proposes to align all such skill development efforts with a common NSQF that sets standards of proficiency for different vocations.
The NSQF is a competency-based framework that organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude. These levels, graded from one to ten, are defined in terms of learning outcomes which the learners must possess regardless of whether they are obtained through formal, non-formal or informal learning. Under the framework, vocational training will be introduced as an integral part of general education at the secondary and senior levels. There is a provision for arranging hands-on training in an industrial set-up and on-job training may be provided during vacations for 80 hours.
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