Ludhiana : To upgrade the skills and proficiency among students and to create awareness regarding career options, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has started offering vocational courses from Class IX onwards.
While the CBSE has been promoting these courses for many years, the momentum of the vocational curriculum courses has taken a back seat among the city students with many schools wary of introducing the curriculum.
School principals are of the opinion that parents should encourage their children to opt for skill-based courses.
Kundan Vidya Mandir Principal Navita Puri said: “Vocational courses are getting popular with students desiring to explore a range of professional options. But our school does not offer any vocational course as it needs a separate set-up and teachers. But in future, we will like to add some vocational courses in our school as well. Not everyone can be a merit holder or secure a seat in well-known colleges and universities. These skill-based courses can help students in procuring jobs of their choice .”
“Vocational courses are for those who want do not want to earn a degree or those who have no calibre. In many schools, teachers shift weaker students to vocational courses as they have to show 100 per cent result. Amid such connotations attached to vocational courses, very few students will show interest in such courses,” said Ankit, a student.
“Vocational subjects should be promoted among students to expand their horizons. School should make an effort to introduce few vocational courses so that the students can get exposure to the procedural knowledge and skills,” said Astha Bhamba, who is this year’s Class XII All India second rank holder
Harmeet Kaur, Principal of Nankana Sahib Public School, said: “Vocational courses are reasonably good but many parents are reluctant. Vocational courses are successful in government schools where students do not excel in academics. There is a lack of awareness among the students and parents about these courses. For them, success means securing an admission in a college or earning a degree.”
The CBSE has introduced vocational courses under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) from the academic session 2018- 2019 and 2019-2020. There are 15 courses at the secondary level and 40 courses in the senior secondary level.
For classes IX and X, the scheme of studies (NSQF) vocational subject may be offered as additional sixth subject along with the existing five academic subjects. The last date for applying to offer Vocational Courses has been extended up to July 16 .
Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.
