siliconindia | | OCTOBER 201919VIEW POINTThe traditional education system is focused on degrees rather than developing skills and competencies. While securing a degree is important, it alone does not guarantee success in the chosen field. One learns a number of theories during foundational education, but applying these theories at the workplace requires skills, which for the most part, are not taught as part of the degree programme. There has been limited emphasis on vocational training in the traditional system when it is one of the most important factors in preparing youth for jobs. Realizing this pressing issue, the Govt. of India launched the `Skill India' campaign in 2015. While a number of skill development programs in the country have been going on for decades, the `Skill India' campaign is focused on making `skill development' aspirational through providing employability skills to youth. The Government is partnering with stakeholders, including educational institutions, non-government organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector in the development of skills for the youth to enable best possible results. Skill development programmes of the Central Government over the years have been spread across more than 20 Ministries/Departments, but the efforts towards convergence of these programs to ensure better skilling outcomes are very recent. The Government is moving towards a `consolidated approach to skilling' through setting up of common norms and standards in order to meet the challenge of skilling with speed, standard and sustainability. Even though the efforts towards consolidation are on-going, the challenge at hand is huge. One of the key concerns to be addressed is the public perception on skilling, which is viewed as the last option meant for those who have not been able to progress or have opted out of the formal academic system. The Government is addressing this through widespread publicity campaigns highlighting the advantages of vocational training. Participation in events like world skills competition, international job fairs and similar platforms is a welcome step. The focus on vocational training programs is also leading to a number of concerns and questions in the SKILLS ARE WHAT TAKES US FAR, NOT THE DEGREEBy Sanjay Bahl, CEO & MD, Centum LearningDelhi based Centum Learning is a global organization in the skills which provides Corporate Training, Vocational Skills Training, Skill development & CSR Partnership to improve business productivity, enhancing the company's overall operations. Sanjay Bahl
< Page 9 | Page 11 >