Bhubaneswar (14/05):
Vocational education has been given much importance to creating skilled personnel. For
revamping of 174 Govt Vocational Higher Secondary Schools (GVHSS) to National Skill
Qualification Framework (NSQF), under STARS Programme, a five days training program
was organized by the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, Odisha for 193 Junior Lecturers
from 9th to 13th May 2023 at the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), Bhubaneswar. The faculties
from Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE) Bhopal
imparted the training with the objective to update the knowledge & skills of the Junior Lecturers,
disseminating the information on the availability of educational and employ-ability opportunities
among students, understanding the existing scheme of vocational programs in the state and
outlining the transition from the current vocational program to NSQF-aligned courses and to aware on
the career prospects in vocational education. NSQF is a competency-based framework that
organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills, and aptitude.
The sessions were conducted in two simultaneous batches of around 100 participants each.
Along with the presentations and discussions, exposure visits to the premier World Skill Centre,
Mancheswar and Central Tool Room and Training Centre, Chandaka, Industrial Area,
Bhubaneswar (CTTC), Ministry of MSME, Govt. India was organized to gain practical
knowledge. Participants spent about half-day in each of the campuses and visited the facilities
available both in its academic, Production, and Training Departments and expose to the global
employability opportunity in the State. The team is highly impressed with the state-of-the-art
machinery and facilities are available in the campus. Yoga for Health & Wellness was part of the
program.
Smt Subhashree Nanda, Special Secretary School & Mass Education Department and
Sri Deepak Palliwar, Joint Director, PSSCIVE, graced the valedictory session. While welcoming
Sri Raghuram R Iyer, Director, DHSE highlighted, that Odisha is the first State to
collaborate with PSSCIVE, Bhopal to host such kind of program in Odisha, along with
faculties capacity building, Lab facility, school infrastructure, etc to be strengthened.
Prof Mehrotra, enlightened on Vocational education, a system that allows individuals to
get trained in the skills they are good at. Vocational education is based on the idea that everyone
has a different skill set. Some are good at technical skills whereas some can possess artistic
capabilities. The purpose of vocational education is to prepare students for future careers by
gaining the necessary skills and experience. It helps students develop their skills and, thus,
increases their opportunities for employment.
Smt. Subhashree Nanda, Special Secretary, School & Mass Education, Govt of Odisha
focused on education that makes one more confident in their respective occupations. Vocational
education trains students in a specific skill and this experience is directly linked to a career in the
future. Such training is more useful because there are practical programs designed to help the
students be accustomed to a professional setup. Vocational education is the need of the hour
because the practical learning experience boosts confidence, generates employability, and better
professionals. Vocational education allows them to prioritize their skill set and also turns it into a skill
that makes their career.
Deepak Palliwar, Joint Director, PSSCIVE, was highly impressed to listen to the
feedback from participants. He expressed his thanks to Commissioner-cum-Secretary S& ME
Department for organizing this program with PSSCIVE and encouraging to use of e-learning
resources developed by PSSCIVE faculties as well as regular training in small batches of 40-50
to be organized. Vocational education is the learning of skills that one is interested in and might
choose to build a career out of it. Academic achievements are given more importance and
credibility. Whereas in the real world, it is our skill and practical knowledge that makes us
competent.
In the end, the vote of thanks was given by Smt Sunanda Mekap, Asst Director, DHSE to each
and all present there and making the program a success while Prof Tilottama Senapati, Deputy
Director, DHSE, and Rashmi Rekha Sethi, Associate Prof RIE., coordinated the 5 days event.
