NIOS to reach out for skill development using distance learning mode

NEW DELHI: An international symposium on 'flexible models for skill development' was jointly organised by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and Open Polytechnic of New Zealand on Wednesday at the India Habitat Centre.
According to chairman, NIOS, S S Jena, the symposium was aimed at development of flexible models of skills development and an innovative system of skill training with an objective of reaching out to a huge workforce and strengthen the governmnt's skill development programme.He also said that effort is being made develop an innovative system of establishing a open polytechnic system, a first of its kind in India, for skill training and education under the aegis of NIOS after getting the system integrated with the National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF) lunched by MHRD, Government of India.
Thanking the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand for sharing their experiences in the field of vocational education, HRD minister, Kapil Sibal, pointed out the enormous potential of the work force in India which was growing at a rate of 1.7% annually. However with a capacity for vocational training limited to just three million annually vis-a-vis the demand is of about 10 million, the challenge is to bridge this gap by providing the required skill base. He added that imparting these skills should include an element of continuum giving students the ability to learn and un-learn making the system flexible.
This also requires development of standards in skill development by recognising existing skills, getting state education ministers to map the skills required in various localities of their states, by means of which industry can work with these localities would provide skill training in these areas.
Speaking on the importance of vocationalisation of education starting from the school stage, D Purandeshwari, minister of state, HRD said that there is an urgent need for innovation which need to be learner-centric. Vocational institutions facing these challenges with changing technologies should meet this need to provide a system of certification empowering individuals to contribute to the national economy.
Later, R Bhattacharya, secretary, school education and literacy, MHRD, explained the NVEQF, which organises qualifications according to a series of knowledge and skill, ensuring parity between academic and vocational education and corresponding qualifications, thereby promoting inclusive growth. The NIOS with its inbuilt flexibilities will play a significant role in this end. Addressing the gathering, Steven Joyce, minister for tertiary education, skills and employment, government of New Zealand expressed hope that this symposium will provide a tangible opportunity for learning through collaboration, keeping in view the massive challenge of providing skills to 500 million people in India by 2022 and with the long tradition of innovation in the field of vocational education possessed by New Zealand.