7-step AICTE plan to join the workplace

The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has designed a seven-stage format for vocational education in the country, which will allow students to transition between formal education, vocational qualifications and the workplace.

The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has designed a seven-stage format for vocational education in the country, which will allow students to transition between formal education, vocational qualifications and the workplace.

The schemes will be launched next June and have been broken up into seven levels, with students being eligible for certification at the end of every level. These courses will be both degree level courses (three years after Class 12) as well as diploma level courses (two years after Class 10), and will also be available at the Class 9 and Class 10 levels for specific streams.

As yet, there is no overall framework governing vocational education. Less than 10,000 schools offer vocational courses at different levels.

HT Image

“By creating a national framework for vocational education we are aiming to build competency skills for industry,” said SS Mantha, chairperson of AICTE. “Each of the certificates will be independent but also connected to the next level.”

At the school level the certificate courses will be under the purview of the state or central education boards, and under the purview of the AICTE at the post-school level. The courses will be delivered with the help of industry partners. For now, courses will be rolled out in media, telecommunication, Information Technology, tourism, automotives and construction.