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Challenges to Vocational Education In India – Reviewing New Education Policy 2020

Dr. Vidya H .N

Associate Professor, Department of History

Government Arts, Commerce And Post Graduate College (Autonomous)

Hassan – 573201, Karnataka State

Mail:  vidyasridhara365@gmail.com

Ph : 9448870802

Abstract

This paper focuses on emphasising the need for reviewing the policies towards eliminating challenges to introduction of vocational education in the light of publication of New Education Policy (NEP). One of the primary changes focused in NEP is  introducing vocational courses and introducing school children towards learning vocational aptitudes since class VI. Stressing the need for changing the perception of vocational education as being inferior to mainstream education the New education  policy emphasises on introducing students to vocational subjects from very early that is class six including opportunities for internship from grade six to grade 12. The policy suggests students to participate in a  10 day  bag less period during classes 6-8 where they intern with local vocational experts such as carpenters, gardeners, potters, artists , skill experts etc. The policy suggests encouraging bag less days for various types of enrichment activities involving arts, quizzes, sports ,vocational crafts etc. The policy also lays special emphasis on developing innate talents in every student. These talents might express themselves in the form of varying interests, dispositions & capacities.

            There is a need to setting up multi disciplinary education and research universities which provides global levels of educational learning. Even though government has stressed on introducing vocations training to grade VI students , there are several  challenges. A certain section of teachers have expressed concern over the importance of given to Vocational education in NEP arguing that it would further existing inequalities in accessing good education.

Key words: New Education Policy, Vocational Education , Challenges ,

Introduction

Indian New Education Policy aims at transformation  of Indian education system and vocational education gets priority in the new frame work. NEP aspires to  bring about transformation  in school education , vocational education and higher education. This is a dream policy for India as it replaces 34 year old NEP of 1986 . NEP emphasise on  Vocationalization of education starting from 6th standard.

  1. A practice based curriculum for grades 6-8 will be designed by the National council of educational research and training.
  2. The policy suggests students to participate in a  10 day  bag less period during classes 6-8 where they intern with local vocational experts such as carpenters, gardeners, potters, artists etc.
  3. The policy suggests encouraging bag less days will be encouraged throughout the year for various types of enrichment activities involving arts quizzes sports vocational crafts etc.
  4. The policy also lays special emphasis on developing innate talents in every student. These talents might express themselves in the form of  varying interests ,  dispositions & capacities.
  5. Those students that show particularly strong interest and capacities in a given sphere must be encouraged to pursue that realm beyond general school curriculum.
  6. Teacher education will include methods for the recognition and fostering of such student talents and interests.
  7. The NCERT and National council for teacher education will develop guidelines for the education of exceptionally talented and gifted children.
  8. Olympiad and competitions in various subjects will be conducted across the country with clear co-ordination and progression from school to local to state to national level
  9. Students are motivated to participate at all levels of competitions to ensure their successful learning outcomes.
  10. Efforts will be made to make rural area students also get all kinds of support to participate in such competitions.
  11. Public and private universities would be encouraged to use merit based results from National, Inter National competitions and results from other such programmes as part of criteria for admissions into their under graduate programmes .

Consultations

New Education Policy is the result of extensive consultation with all stake holders It is claimed that this is announced according to micro level consultation study. The following is the brake up of consultations

1

Blocks consulted

6600

2

districts

676

3

Gram panchayats

2.5 lakh

4

Ulbs

6000
 

One of the primary changes focused is , ministry of human resource in renamed as ministry of education . NEP aspires to  bring about transformation  in school education , vocational education and higher education. This is a dream policy for India as it replaces 34 year old NEP of 1986 . NEP emphasise on  Vocationalization of education starting from 6th standard.

Challenges

Even though government has stressed on introducing vocations training to grade VI students , there are several  challenges. A certain section of teachers have expressed concern over the importance of given to Vocational education in NEP arguing that it would further existing inequalities in accessing good education.  The policy calls for removing hard separations between academic and vocational streams.

Disregards basic mainstream education

But a danger was seen where students from economically weaker sections would end up taking predominantly vocational groups.  This ignores the importance of ensuring basic mainstream education for all students till class 10. 

 

Barrier for first generation learners

It is also expressed that the stress of vocational education at an early age would become  a barrier for many first generation learners .It is also expressed that students from disadvantage backgrounds would fail to access to higher education  as they lack basic educational foundation.

Lead to increase in dropouts

The present policy would lead to dropouts and might also support students to opt for low skilled jobs at a very young age. There is  also a risk of students from weaker socio- economic backgrounds  who would fail to access any type of higher education and would remain confined to  basic vocational education. They would end up getting only minimum vocational education and any higher vocational internship would just be a dream for them.

Danger of distraction

There is also a danger of distraction. Providing vocational education and internships options from very young age could lead to distractions. The learning interests would deviate from learning to earning with basic minimum skills acquired which locates them in low salaried vocations. They would find it very difficult to pursue higher education as they would find low salaried jobs easily.

  1. The NEP 2020 need to focus on broad based multi disciplinary graduation courses
  2. The NEP re proposes to  bring in flexibility in curriculum
  3.  The students need to get creative combinations of subjects
  4. The education need to completely focus on provision for vocational courses which are employable in local level
  5.  The provision for multi entry and multi exit need to be given proper certification.
  6. NEP focuses on academic bank of credits but there is an ed facilitate transfer of credits which will support a students to get required credits.

Course lists- Following are some of the courses which supports youth

Sl No

Name of the vocational course

1

Agro processing

2

Apparel and textile export

3

Artificial intelligence

4

Auditing

5

Automotive

6

Banking

7

Beauty and wellness

8

Financial marketing

9

Front office operations

10

Health care

11

Hospitality sector

12

Information technology

13

Insurance

14

Multi media

15

Multi skills development

16

Physical activity trainer

17

Retail sector

18

Security

19

Tourism –operations

20

Ticketing services
 

Types of jobs offered

Sl No

Types of jobs  available

1

Stores operations assistant

2

Domestic executive

3

Automotive technician

4

Tour guide

5

Tour operator

6

Beauty therapist

7

Personal body trainer

8

Assistant chef

9

Front office executive

10

Field executive

11

Texture artists

12

Multi skill assistant

13

Hand embroider

14

General duty assistant.

15

Crop supervisor

16

Wellness manager
 

The challenges of collaboration

  1. The collaboration between  centre and state governments in ensuring public investments in education sector  needs to be monitored clearly. because this would assist in uniform vocational curricula and uniform learning access. 
  2. Creation of an autonomous body the National educational technology forum  ( NETF) as proposed in the NEP   which allows to provide a plat form  for free exchange of ideas on the use of technology to enhance learning ,  assessment ,  planning and administration will have to be supervised consistently in providing form base for vocational education.
  3. Emphasis on setting up of gender inclusion fund is also another goof proposal which aims to lessen gender gaps in higher education.
  4. NEP proposes to establish special education zones for disadvantaged regions and groups, this would support higher accessibility for the disadvantaged sections.  
  5. Promotion of multilingualism in school education and higher education will assist to students to better understand vocational curricula.
  6. Setting up of National institutes for ancient subjects such as Pali  , Persian and Prakrit languages would act as a bridge for interpretation of Indian past with modern technological tools.
  7. NEP also need to focus on its proposal for  establishment of a nodal agency to monitor translations and interpretations. Indian institute of translation and interpretation as proposed , would be very much supportive in interpreting core areas of Ancient Indian educational system which centred for vocational learning
  8. New umbrella regulator for all higher education except medical and legal courses as aspired by the NEP also holds good if vocation courses are monitored uniformly.

Education is a concurrent subject in the Constitution of India  with most states having their own school boards.   Hence ,  bringing all state government to have a common platform of school board administration would be very difficult.

A National mission on fundamental literacy and numeracy would ensure basic skills at class three by 2025.Separate technology unit to develop digital education resources.The idea of bridging gap between academic and vocational streams needs to be considered as the vocational certificates earned by students would lock up them to vocational courses instead of vocational internships envisaged by Higher education. This naturally cuts down the GER -general enrolment ratio.

But there are options for students to return to academic stems at different stages even after achieving greater heights in vocational streams. The concept of ABC (ACADEMIC BANK OF CREDITS), which enables students to acquire academic credits from different institutions while studying in one institution, is a welcome part of the NEP. The  increasing support and thrust given to start-ups by the state governments  would support to focus on vocational education and this helps to make vocational education become more advantageous to larger  population..

Conclusion

The NEP is a dream of present government to rationalize education. India is a country of youth population and each student  aspires to get  a good profession after his graduation degree. But it is often seen that skill gaps marginally cuts the aspirations of fresher graduates. This lacuna needs to be addressed through NEP. As government dreams to set up institutions on par with IITs IIMs,   there is a need to setting up multi disciplinary education and research universities which provides global levels of educational learning.

References

  1. Prakash Kumar -   National Education Policy  2020 Proposes – Article Publsihe Din Outlook Dated 31-07-2020
  2. Ravi Prakash   National Education Policy  - Five Big Changes In Schools Published Date Live Mint  09-08-2020
  3. Sagar Kulkarni -New Policy Of School Education  , Deccan Herald  , Published Date Dated 09-08-2020
  4. Sangeet Jain -National Education Policy 2020 A Policy For The Time Published Date 09-08-2020
  5.  Deepak Upadhyaya -New School Education  Live Mint Published Date 31-07-2020
  6. National Education Policy  - A Debate  Indian Express Published Date 29-07-2020
  7. Krishna Atul -National Education Policy 2020 High Lights  And Higher Education Published Date 31-07-2020
  8. Amandeep Shukla -National Education Policy ,  Hindustan Times Published Date 29-07-2020
  9. Kumara Anisha -National Education Policy 2020  Published Date 30-07-2020
  10. Rohtagi  Anubha (ed)  Highlights of National Education Policy Hindustan times 08—8-2020
  11. Ambika pandit – Gender inclusion & National Education Policy ,  the times of India  published date  30-07-2020
  12.  Manish pratim – National Education Policy and language policy ,published in Hindustan  times date  published  26-07-2020

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