The skill level and educational attainment of the workforce determines the productivity as well as the ability to adapt to the changing industrial environment. A majority of Indian workforce does not possess marketable skills which is an impediment in getting decent employment and improving their economic condition.
While India has large young population, only 5% of the Indian labour force in the age group of 20-24 years has obtained vocational skills through formal means whereas the percentage in industrialized countries varies between 60% and 96%. About 63% of the school students drop out at different stages before reaching Class-X. Only about 2.5 million vocational training seats are available in the country whereas about 12.8 million persons enter the labour market every year. Even out of these training places, very few are available for early school dropouts.
Key features of the scheme
- ° Demand driven short term training courses based on Modular Employable Skills (MES) decided in consultation with Industry. MES is the ‘minimum skills set’ which is sufficient for gainful employment.
- ° Central government will facilitate and promote training while industry, private sector and State Governments will train the persons.
- ° Optimum utilization of existing infrastructure to make training cost effective.
- ° Flexible delivery mechanism (part time, weekends, full time, onsite/ offsite) to suit needs of various target groups.
- ° Different levels of programs (Foundation level as well as skill up-gradation) to meet demands of various target groups.
- ° The services of existing or retired faculty or guest faculty to be utilized.
- ° Courses would also be available for persons having completed 5th standard.
- ° Testing & certification of skills acquired informally.
- ° Testing of skills of trainees by independent assessing bodies, which would not be involved in training delivery, to ensure that it is done impartially.
- ° The essence of the scheme is in the certification that will be nationally and internationally recognized.
Testing and Certification Procedure
The steps involved in testing and certification of competencies of candidates are mentioned below:
- ° Assessing Body (AB) will draw a list of testing centres (TC) and it will provide details of selected TC to the RDAT.
- ° ABs will empanel assessors – sectorwise and areawise
- ° AB or its authorised TCs will collect testing fee in the form of Indian Postal Order (IPO)/ Demand draft (DD) and register the candidates on Web based software/ manually. IPO/DD should be drawn in favour of assessing body.
- ° Assessing Body will process the registration data & dispatch call letter to candidates indicating details about TC, date, etc.
- ° Assessing Body will also communicate to the TC the following:
a. Details of candidates to appear for test in various MES course (Name of trade/area).
b. Details of assessors selected with their contact details.
c. Requirement of infrastructure, raw materials, etc.
d. Cost to be reimbursed by Assessing Body. - TC will make necessary arrangements for test as per direction given by Assessing Body.
- ° Assessing Body will prepare assessment guidelines & marking procedures for the guidance of assessors.
- ° Tests will be conducted in TCs by the assessors appointed by the AB.
- ° Assessing Body will reimburse cost to TC & to assessors.
- ° Assessor will prepare result within 3 days and send it to the Assessing Body.
- ° Assessing Body will consolidate result and will enter the results into Web based software & communicate to the RDAT
- ° RDAT on behalf of DGET will approve results and send the NCVT certificates to the TC through registered post. TC will issue certificate to the individual trainee within 7 days.