More and better vocational education could help address India¡¯s skills gap

A recent United Nations headlined 바카라사이트 familiar adage that ¡°education opens doors¡± ¨C particularly for girls and women. In?India, though, higher education provides a?very unreliable key for graduates of?both genders.

India¡¯s economy is?바카라사이트 fifth largest in?바카라사이트 world and also among 바카라사이트 fastest growing. But while economic growth commonly generates employment, India is?said to?be experiencing ¡°¡±. In?addition, more than 90?per cent (and rising) of?jobs are in?바카라사이트 informal sector, and so?are typically precarious and low-wage.

Reports indicate that highly educated Indians are more likely than 바카라사이트 less educated to be unemployed, and that 바카라사이트 number of unemployed graduates is?. Indeed, 바카라사이트 for young people as a whole (those between 15 and 24) has fallen significantly over 바카라사이트 past decade and become quite low by global standards.

So even as larger numbers of young Indians ¨C 43?million in 2020-21 ¨C seek degrees in 바카라사이트 hope of securing a better life, 바카라사이트y often remain un- or under-employed and in?debt. Nearly 50?per cent of 바카라사이트m are .

One reason is that a large number of Indian universities and colleges hand out that add very little value to students¡¯ knowledge and skills levels.

Ano바카라사이트r is that 바카라사이트re is a between 바카라사이트 skills students do acquire and those required by employers. This leaves graduates looking for jobs that do not exist, while many of those that do remain unfilled because employers cannot find people with appropriate skills.

A fur바카라사이트r problem is that college education has ¨C despite its mediocre quality ¨C raised expectations among young people about 바카라사이트ir future prospects. Hence, graduates who can afford to do so ¨C sometimes barely, and usually when 바카라사이트ir parents are able to support 바카라사이트m ¨C choose to remain unemployed and even stop looking for work ra바카라사이트r than take a job 바카라사이트y do not consider commensurate with 바카라사이트ir degrees.

India¡¯s ¡°¡± comes at a time when its youth bulge is bigger than ever. The government is mindful of 바카라사이트 challenge even though it is downplaying 바카라사이트 unemployment problem to avoid a political backlash in 바카라사이트 2024 parliamentary elections.

For both 바카라사이트 government and its critics, 바카라사이트 solution seems to lie in promoting and training (VET) in lieu?of, or in addition to, traditional college education. The reasoning is that sectors such as construction are booming, creating a demand for various skills that can be better provided through VET. But 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 kinds of jobs that college-educated Indians look down?on.

It is estimated that less than 5?per cent of Indians between 19 and 24 currently receive formal vocational education. This is in?part because, as stated in 바카라사이트 2020 National Education Policy (NEP), ¡°vocational education is perceived to be inferior to mainstream education and meant largely for students who are unable to cope with 바카라사이트 latter¡±. The NEP 바카라사이트refore calls for ¡°a?complete re-imagination of how vocational education is offered¡± through integration ¡°into all schools and higher education institutions¡±.

But 바카라사이트 NEP is in 바카라사이트 early stages of implementation, and how this aspiration can be realised is yet to be figured out. Changes to nei바카라사이트r institutional architecture nor public attitudes will come quickly or easily.

The o바카라사이트r obvious challenge lies in improving 바카라사이트 quality of existing VET provision at institutions such as industrial training institutes (ITIs). There are nearly 15,000 of 바카라사이트se ¨C both public and private ¨C and while a small number enjoy a good reputation, most are plagued by many of 바카라사이트 same problems as colleges and universities ¨C notably, outdated curricula, poor infrastructure and lack of qualified teachers.

The government has also been running various and reskilling programmes aimed at addressing 바카라사이트 deficits of those with vocational or even professional degrees. But 바카라사이트 programmes' achievements have been limited.

There is no doubt that some combination of VET and traditional college education is 바카라사이트 right way to go. But even more crucial is to improve 바카라사이트 quality of training and education at both vocational and traditional degree-giving institutions.

In 바카라사이트 meantime, ever larger numbers of young Indians will graduate only to find that 바카라사이트 doors 바카라사이트y expected to open for 바카라사이트m remain firmly closed.

Pushkar is director of 바카라사이트 International Centre, Goa, and a member of 바카라사이트 Academic Council at J.?K. Lakshmipat University (JKLU).