Chief minister’s nod to varsity for vocational education

In a move that will benefit over 4 lakh students pursuing vocational courses, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has given a go-ahead to the formation of a separate commission and a university for students pursuing vocational education and training courses in the state.

In a move that will benefit over 4 lakh students pursuing vocational courses, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has given a go-ahead to the formation of a separate commission and a university for students pursuing vocational education and training courses in the state.

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“Considering the demand for skilled workforce, it is necessary to take steps towards improving the standards of vocational education. Formation of a commission is a futuristic plan and will have positive repercussions,” said Chavan while addressing the 11-member expert panel, appointed by the government for recommending reforms in vocational education, on Thursday.

The formation of the commission is part of the Maharashtra Vocational Education and Training (MVET) Act, which was drawn by the panel and presented to Chavan. The bill is the brainchild of education minister Rajesh Tope, who has been at the forefront in bringing policy-level reforms for vocational students. It envisages the setting up of an independent regulatory commission for development of vocational education in the state, a quality council and accreditation board and a separate university for vocational education. To assist the students from the Industrial Training Institutes to pursue further education, the panel has introduced the university.

At the meet, Swati Majumdar, chief of Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, who headed the panel on the report and recommendations, also made a presentation on the bill.