Srinagar, Jan 01: While National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes on Vocational Education (VE) and skill development, contrary to it only eleven percent of government-run-schools are being covered under VE.
However, among the un-aided private schools, the official figures reveal that at least 60 percent of such educational institutes were providing vocational education to the students.
The official figures accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), states that among the total number of schools covered under vocational education only 2587 government school educational institutes that amounts to 11.24 percent were delivering the vocational education.
Vocational education is education that prepares people for a skilled craft as an artisan, trade as a tradesperson, or work as a technician. It can also be seen as that type of education given to an individual to prepare that individual to be gainfully employed or self employed with requisite skill.
According to the official figures, among the total of un-aided private schools of Jammu and Kashmir, at least 1816 institutes were covering vocational education.
Pertinently, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has given emphasis on vocational education and skill development.
Integration of vocational education with general education and mainstreaming of vocational education have also been recommended.
To fulfill various objectives of NEP in this regard, the existing scheme of Samagra Shiksha has been revamped and various new interventions relating to Vocational Education like internships, bag-less days, exposure to vocational education at the Upper Primary level etc. are being supported.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary, School Education Department and Director of School Education Kashmir were not available for their comments—(KNO)
