Students can opt for exclusive vocational stream at Class-XI and XII like arts, science and commerce and may join any job or pursue further studies in professional courses thereafter if the government has its way.
The HRD Ministry is set to revise its vocational education scheme under which the students will have the option to pursue vocational studies as an exclusive stream on par with arts, science and commerce.
The revised scheme, modelled on the pattern of vocational education in Australia and Germany, is expected to be announced next month.
"Students can study exclusively vocational education at Class-XI and XII. This will be an additional stream to the existing streams of science, arts and commerce," a senior Ministry official told PTI.
The focus of the revised vocational education stream will be industry collaboration at all stages, starting with designing of the courses, teaching and work experience in industry.
It will ensure employability of the students. Students can join any job or pursue further studies in professional courses like B.Tech after completing vocational courses.
This has been modelled upon the vocational education in Australia and Germany where the industry training is a key component. A delegation, headed by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, is currently visiting Australia where they will understand the vocational education system and its impact on economy.
Both the countries have already set up a joint group on Vocational Education and Training (VET). Sibal's visit follows exchange of high-level delegations from both the countries on VET programmes.
The vocational stream will offer a number of courses in areas like hospitality, automobile sector, paramedics, cooking, truck driving, manufacturing, graphics designing and animation, the official said.
Under vocational stream, the programmes will comprise 70 per cent of subject specific studies and 30 per cent general studies like English and communicative skills.
The revised scheme will be implemented across the country with 100 per cent Central assistance. The government has earmarked Rs 2,000 crore in the 11th Plan for this scheme. The Ministry is preparing a note for approval of Expenditure Finance Committee. Then it will go for Cabinet's approval.
Government had started the Vocation Education Scheme in 1988 but it was discontinued in 2003-04 after evaluations showed that the scheme had failed to yield desired results. The main lacunae cited was that the industry partnership was missing in the programme, rendering it irrelevant to the market needs.