Thaindian News

Gurgaon, Sep 3 (IANS) Launching the pilot project on National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework (NVEQF) here Monday, union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal emphasised the need to change the mindset of parents to promote vocational education in the country.

“India is a country of youth. There is a need to give them such education, which may get them good employment. Parents will have to change their mindset in this regard and ensure that their children get vocational education,” Sibal said.

NVEQF, an ambitious national programme to integrate skills, training and qualifications in schools, has been launched in Haryana on a pilot basis before being implemented in other states of the country.

“If someone has to work in automobiles, where is the need to teach him history? Those who want to pursue studies after schooling can do so but those wanting to work should be professionally prepared to get work,” Sibal said.

He added that about 100 community colleges would soon be opened in the country for this purpose.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Haryana was developing into an education hub of international repute.

“New opportunities are coming up in sectors like IT, automobile, retail and security, for which there is a need to give vocational education to the youth”.

“Our government is trying to mitigate the difference between need of skilled manpower of industry and educational qualification of students by imparting them vocational education,” Hooda said.

NVEQF has been launched in 40 schools in eight Haryana districts, where vocational education will be imparted in four fields - automobile, retail, IT and security - to students of classes 9-12.