Give equal weightage to vocational subjects: UGC to varsities

Students passing out class XII with vocational subjects should be given weightage equivalent to general subjects during admission to undergraduate programmes in colleges and universities, UGC said today.
UGC, which has issued directions to the vice chancellors and other educational heads, said that providing equal weightage will help students get opportunity for vertical mobility.
The directions from UGC came against the backdrop of Ministry of Human Resource Development's concern that students having vocational subjects at their plus-two level may be put to a disadvantageous positions which they seek admission to 'bachelor of vocational' or any other undergraduate programme.
To give a push to vocational education in the country and skilled workforce, the government had introduced the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF), providing 10 levels of certification.

Under the programme, level five to level 10 pertains to higher education and level one to level four falls under the domain of school education.
Ever since the incorporation of the programme in 2012, some school boards had started offering the course to the students and are awarding equivalent certificates.
The direction would prove a boon to such students who will be passing out their plus-two education certified with NSQF level four in this academic session.