It is proposed to start Vocational Training Courses, under a separate cell under Bharat Shikshan Mandal. We can consider starting these courses in the academic year when adequate funds for thisproject are available.
PURPOSE
It is observed that a fairly large number students drop-out after 8th, 9th,or after they fail in 10th or 12th exam, either because they have no liking for formal education, failure at exams., financial incapability, family problems, etc.
These students are a miserable lot in terms of employability, and have virtually none or remote possibility to get a regular earning job-to make a living/support family. They would normally end–up doing sundry jobs, with uncertain employment (or no employment guarantee), as casual labour, with no job security, low wages and no advancement prospects.
The vocations considered here are those for which there is a good employment/self-employment potential. These jobs are primarily related to construction industry and factory work. We read in papers that building construction work, in particular, suffers for want of skilled workmen.
It is also observed that some of these students, who have no liking for formal education or just manage to pass their exams, could have aptitude for learning vocational skills and can become good skilled workmen.
If such students can be helped to acquire basic training in some vocational skills, their employability/self-employability can drastically improve and they can lead a better life.
This, in short, is our purpose in proposing to start such vocational training courses.
WHAT COURSES?
1. For which there is a wide-based demand.
2. Skills which can be quickly absorbed by students with low learning capabilities.
3. For students who have low aptitude for Formal education, but who have aptitude for learning vocational skills.
4. Where our one-time investment in infrastructure, tools/tackle is not very high.
5. Where expendable/consumable materials are not very costly.
To start with, we propose to conduct the following courses:
1. Plumbing
2. Carpentry
3. Electrical
4. Welding
We propose to start with 2 or 3 courses and add on new courses as we gain experience and stabilize. More courses can be consider as we go along, gain experience and identify suitable new skills. Later on we can also consider courses specifically meant for girls/ladies.
COURSE SYLLABLES
We propose to follow course syllables as prescribed for similar courses in Govt. run Vocational Training Institutions and prepare the students adequately to appear and pass the examinations conducted by the empowered Govt. agencies (if these students are permitted to appear as external students).Till we such a registration, we may have to tie up with a private technical training institution for conducting examinations and issue their certificate. In case we opt for affiliation with the Pradhan Mantri Kaushalya Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), the course syllabus for each skill shall be as per their syllabus.
METHOD OF TEACHING
The emphasis here will be on practical training, backed-up by requisite theoretical background. The training therefore shall be a mix of class-room and hands-down training. For theoretical training, we will have to take help of engineers/professionals/retired teachers from ITI or Govt. Technical Training Institute, etc and for practical training, retired instructors from ITI/Govt technical school/operating experienced hands. We have to identify suitable personnel.
The message as to our proposal to start vocational courses should reach properly to the students who are likely to be interested in vocational training. Considering the age group, physical capabilities (height, weight, physical fitness, dexterity to do physical labour, etc) the target students could be those appearing 10th, failing at SSC/HSC exams, and where the possibility of their getting good marks and pursuing further education are less. We can also consider drop-out students, if they meet the fitness requirements. Before the commencement of the annual exam of-10th/12th, we should talk to these students conveying them purpose and prospects, etc to seek how many students would be interested and then we talk to the parents. By this we can get a fair idea of response. They should also be told of course duration/hours likely fees, etc.
We can conduct such courses under the Pradahan Mantri Kaushalya Yojana. They have worked out detailed sylabus, guidelines & procedures for recognition / affiliation.