India has been witness to significant progress in terms of vocational training, skilling and education in the last few years. The recent approval by the Union Cabinet of the merger of the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) to give rise to the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) is yet another step in that direction.
NCVET will be dedicated to monitoring and regulating the standard so as to ensure accountability and a focussed approach.
Industrial training institutes (ITIs), polytechnics and government schemes, such as DDU-GKY, PMKVY, UDAAN, NSQF-RMSA have been making sure that maximum students are upskilled and made job ready. Both short- and long-term vocational skilling courses as well as educational programmes have also been equipping entrants in the labour market with new forms of learning.
With the innumerable new skill universities trying to unite the industry, employment seekers and the academia in order to draw up a plan for vocational skilling and a strong pipeline of available talent pool for hiring, there are certain areas that NCVET needs to focus on:
• NCVET will have to create standardised guidelines for the vocational training industry.
• It is essential for NCVET to identify Indian industry requirements, its varying skilling needs, and the required technology intervention.
• National benchmarks and standards will have to be set to ensure valuable and high-quality vocational skilling.
• Stronger assessments, certification and monitoring processes need to be implemented.
• One main function will be to approve the qualifications developed by awarding bodies and sector skill councils (SSCs).
• NCVET will also have to recognise and regulate the awarding and assessment bodies, and skill-related information providers. This will ensure smoother evaluation and learning processes.
• The focus has to be on courses or programmes that create long-term value and offer a valuable degree certificate on completion.
• NCVET should provide facilities for learners to learn on-the-job, while earning within a beneficial education framework.
• All grievances of the students should be redressed by NCVET, which should serve as the chief regulatory body for not just research but also information dissemination.
• NCVET should strive to bring in uniformity to the system.
