Jharkhand would be introducing vocational training for students in its upcoming schools of excellence and model schools to be operational from April.

“It was following the directions of the chief minister Hemant Soren that we are trying to provide holistic, skill-based, employment-oriented education to students of 80 schools of excellence (SoE) and 325 model schools (located in each block of the state) and vocational education is a part of this effort. We will be launching vocational education labs in such schools during a state-level programme by end of March-April first week,” said Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) project director Kiran Kumari Passi.

As per a release issued by the chief minister’s secretariat on Thursday, students will be imparted vocational training in 11 popular trades.

These include agriculture, information technology (IT), IT-enabled services (ITES), apparel and make-up, home furnishing, media and entertainment, automotive, tourism and hospitality, beauty and wellness, electronics and hardware, retail and healthcare.

“Arrangements are being made to facilitate on-job training through industrial field visits to state-level establishments and institutions associated with the respective trade so that employment opportunities can be made available to the students as per their interests,” the release stated.

Online training of principals of Schools of Excellence and Model Schools has been given by the National Center for School Leadership in two phases. Further, they have also received training in two phases from the Azim Premji Foundation and IIM Ranchi.

“There are plans to organise exposure visits for the principals and selected teachers to similar schools of other states so that they get acquainted with the educational facilities available there.

“In January, training will be imparted by IIMs for the capacity building of principals. While the Azim Premji Foundation Framework has been prepared for the Teaching Needs Assessment (TNA) of teachers of secondary and higher secondary schools,” the release added.

From the academic session starting from April, all 80 Schools of Excellences will be having CBSE affiliation.