Secondary and Tertiary Languages Can be Replaced with Vocational Subjects by SSC students

From the next academic year, the students who are studying under the state board curriculum can choose a vocational subject in place of second or third language in class 9 and 10. The teachers in various government schools are being taught various vocational subjects like automobile, information technology, retail and skills like plumbing and carpentry by the state school education.

A couple of year ago, the curriculum of introducing skill based programmes in place of secondary language papers were introduced in 350 schools across the state on pilot basis. This will provide the vocational training to the students at the early stages, so that the government scheme Rashirya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) could get achieved. From this year onwards more aided schools have been brought under the curriculum and 30 teachers are being trained in skill development subjects for a period of one year. The teachers will be able to implement the curriculum in their respective schools and train the students, after completing their one year mandatory training programme. An extra salary of Rs. 650 per month will be paid to the teachers for teaching skill based programmes to the students.

According to the Principal Secretary of the department, Nand Kumar, “We had tested the curriculum in selected schools, now we are training schools in phases to implement it. Once the teachers are trained, they can help their schools in selecting the subjects for the new academic year.” The vocational training curriculum will focus on hands-on learning and students will have to work as apprentice for three months in the total course period of one year. The vocational subjects will carry 100 marks each out of which 70 marks would be devoted to practical exams.