Bhubaneswar, Dec. 7: Students of government schools will now have the option to choose vocational education instead of a third language.
They will have the option to choose from four disciplines - IT and ITES; retail; travel and tourism; and banking & financial services and insurance (BFSI). The programme aims to enhance the employability of the secondary school students through four years of skill-based training.
Till now, the Class IX students had to choose from between either Hindi or Sanskrit as third language. The vocational education subject has to be continued till Class XII, and on completion, the students will be provided with certificates from the National Skill Development Corporation, along with their Class XII certificates.
School and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra today formally launched the programme at Capital High School in the city. To start with, the school will offer IT and ITES to 35 students. Gradually, the other disciplines will be introduced. The programme will begin in 208 schools across the state. While IT and ITES will be available in all 208 schools, retail will be available in 34 schools, the BFSI in 49 schools and travel and tourism will be offered in 95 schools.
There will be 200 study hours for the programme, including 120 hours for practical classes. The students will be attached with different industries for hands-on training and exposure.
The state government has also entered into an agreement with the corporation for the evaluation and assessment part of the vocational programme.
"We have been able to provide books in Odia. Experts have translated the books," said Odisha Madhyamika Siksha Mission's project director Ratnakar Rout.
Board of Secondary Education president S.K. Dash said: "This was done to draw more students to the course who would otherwise shy away because of their discomfort with the English medium of learning. We have provided a glossary of the technical terms."
As many as 360 trained vocational trainers have been engaged for the programme.
The authorities are also trying to engage industry experts as guest lecturers.
The headmasters have been asked to sensitise the students about the benefits of the course to create demand and the importance of having a skill certificate from the corporation.
