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The National Education Policy 2020 aims to overcome the social status hierarchy associated with vocational education and requires integration of vocational education programmes into the mainstream education in all educational institutions in a phased manner. Beginning with vocational exposure at early stages in middle and secondary school, quality vocational education will be integrated smoothly into higher education. It will ensure that every child learns at least one vocation and is exposed to several more. This would highlight the dignity of labour and the importance of vocations that involve Indian arts and artisanship.
By 2025 , at least 50% of learners through the school and higher education system shall have exposure to vocational education, for which a clear action plan with targets and timelines will be developed. This is in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
This will help to realize the full potential of India's demographic dividend. The number of students in vocational education will be considered while arriving at the GER targets. The development of vocational capacities will go hand-in-hand with the development of 'academic' or other capacities. Vocational education will be integrated in the educational offerings of all secondary schools in a phased manner over the next decade. Towards this, secondary schools will also collaborate with ITIs, polytechnics, local industry, etc. Skill labs will also be set up and created in the schools in a hub and spoke model which will allow other schools to use the facility. Higher education institutions (HEI) will offer vocational education either on their own or in partnership with industry and NGOs. The Bachelors in Vocation (B. Voc.) degrees introduced in 2013 will continue to exist, but vocational courses will also be available to students enrolled in all other bachelor's degree programmes, including the 4-year multi-disciplinary bachelor's programmes HEIS will also be allowed to conduct short-term certificate courses in various skills including soft, skills, 'Lok Vidya', i.e., important vocational knowledge developed in India, will be made accessible to students through integration into vocational education courses. The possibility of offering vocational courses through Open and Distance Learning mode will also be explored.
Vocational education will be integrated into all school and higher education institutions in a phased manner over the next decade. Focus areas for vocational education will be chosen based on skills gap analysis and mapping of local opportunities. Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) will constitute a National Committee for the Integration of Vocational Education (NCIVE), consisting of experts in vocational education and representatives from across ministries, in collaboration with industry, to oversee this effort. |
