This article is to share some views on the best vocational course integration for K-12 Schools in India. There are multiple vocational courses available in India for different industry sectors. I have tried to take up some of the prominent ones for integration in the K-12 Schools in India.
Vocational Courses in India
One of the primary goals of education is to impart the basic skills needed to create an employable individual. unfortunately, the current schooling system in India is purely academic-based and does not provide a comprehensive idea about the different vocations available.
For many jobs and study options, students must undergo a separate career and college counseling session. Thus, it is essential to provide exposure to career-based training at the K-12 level. The vocational course integration can help students decide upon their future learning goals and effectively utilize their talents.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 stresses the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and aims to integrate TVET into all traditional educational institutions. The Ministry of education targets to expose at least 50% of learners to vocational education by 2025. The ministry is planning to mainstream TVET by exposing the vocational subjects to students from grade 6.
Vocational Courses Integration for K-12 Schools in India
In India, Vocational Courses are still not considered as the important learning criteria. But gradually, the people’s mindset is changing towards Vocational education. The choice of vocational courses in India depends on multiple variable factors like –affordability, career focus, family values, and culture, etc.
Out of the multiple options available, Here are 6 domains with the Best Vocational Courses integration for K-12 schools in India, which can help the young generation to choose their career path efficiently at an early stage.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the primary source of living for more than 50% of Indians. Agriculture contributes to the country’s approx.17% of GDP. So, it is essential to generate interest in agriculture in the young minds of the country. Some vocational courses of agriculture that the schools can implement are:
Dairy Farming
This vocational course deals with dairy farm management, milk and milk products, and waste management in dairy farming. Dairy farming opens up career opportunities such as veterinarians, researchers in dairy sciences, or setting up a dairy farm. A dairy farmer can earn up to 1 lakh per month.
Horticulture
The horticulture course emphasizes the ornamental cultivation of plants, flowers, the art of gardening, and landscaping. This course enables the students to take up floriculture, landscaping, and greenhouse technology in the future. These topics are full of ample growth opportunities.
A floriculturist and a horticulturist can earn up to 7 lakhs per annum. And Scientists working in a reputed institution like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research can earn up to 9 lakhs per annum. There are multiple other programs in agriculture, which the schools can look for – Seeds technology, organic farming, food processing, etc.
Banking and Finance
Learning banking helps students in understanding the basics of the economy and financial management skills. Banking and finance courses can help them gain insight into employment opportunities in banks and start their financial journey. Some practical vocational courses under this category are:
Banking
Vocational course in Banking includes learning about management of a bank office, accounting, lending operations in the bank, and cash management. This course provides a fundamental idea about the banking system to the students and can help them gain knowledge to pursue a degree in commerce.
Financial Markets
This course provides the basics of the stock market, shares, trading, and mutual funds. Students equipped with the knowledge of financial markets tend to invest early and make better returns. Attractive career options such as banker, financial analyst, stockbroker, etc are available in this field with lucrative salaries. A stockbroker in India can earn up to 4 lakhs per month.
Computer Science And Technology
We live in the era of technology. Computers and the internet are household essentials now. Technology is integrated into different sectors across the career spectrum. So, it is essential for the students to well versed with technological knowledge and skills. Here are some courses that can help them hone tech skills and generate interest in it.
Information Technology (IT)
The basic course in Information Technology includes some basic programs, like Networking and Internet, Office Automation Tools, Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS), Web Designing, etc. Students can either take up jobs like IT helpdesk assistant, web designing assistant, etc. Or after completing this course, they can further choose to go for higher studies in IT.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a new course introduced by the NCERT. This course deals with an introduction to AI, AI project cycle, advanced Python, and data science. This course can introduce the world of coding and machine learning to the students and generate interest to study the same as a part of higher education.
Digital Marketing
This is one of the courses that emphasizes the application of technology into other fields. This course consists of the basics of marketing on digital platforms. Students can also do some specialization in programs like Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Social Media Marketing, etc. after completion of this course.
Media
Media is an umbrella term encompassing Broadcasting (television and radio), Publishing (newspaper), and the internet. Media plays a vital role in society because it provides us with information about the world’s happenings. Media also acts as a watchdog and brings into light the injustices of society. Thus, exposure to the inner working of the media world can open new doors for the students in terms of careers.
Journalism
Today, journalism has grown beyond newspaper and television. With easy internet accessibility, there is greater scope for journalists who can bring in news from all the sections of society and provide different perspectives. An introductory course in journalism includes gathering facts, skillful interviewing, research, developing stories, and engaging the readers. These aspects can create curiosity among students to study for a Bachelor’s degree in journalism or media studies.
Creative Writing
A creative writing course helps students express and unleash their creativity in written format. Creative writing courses can help the students branch out into various fields like films, television, fiction writing, poetry, music, and other creative mediums.
Hospitality
The hospitality sector includes hotels, restaurants, food and drink service, catering, theme parks, travel, and tourism. The hospitality sector generates a significant number of employment opportunities and boosts a country’s economy. Here are some important branches of the hospitality business that can create interest among the students at an early stage of planning and decide on their careers.
Hotel Management
This course provides the basics of establishing a hotel, housekeeping, front office, Food production, maintenance of accounts, safety, hygiene, etc. The fundamental course in schools can be a stepping stone for the students to study for Bachelors in Hotel Management. The students can learn the basics to get a feel of the sector and learn the fundamentals of the Hotel Management program.
Travel and Tourism
The travel and tourism industry is always a fast-growing industry. Though due to COVID there is a slowdown, it will surely pick up again very fast across the globe. This industry is one of the prime and most lucrative industries. The travel and tourism industry is expected to create multi-million jobs in the coming years in India.
Students have limitless career prospects in this industry. Students looking to build their careers in the travel and tourism industry can choose to work for different travel agencies, tour operators, immigration and customs services, government tourism departments, airlines, etc. Candidates can also upgrade themselves with a degree, diploma, or certificate course in travel and tourism at graduation or post-graduation level.
The schools can offer different specializations in the Hospitality category like Culinary Arts, Baking Science, Patisserie, F&B Service, Front Office, etc. During the early stage of choosing the right career option, students with innate creativity and interest in cooking and baking can benefit from this course. By doing the course in food production, they can look to build their career in the hotel industry, or can be an entrepreneur as well.
The schools can also apply for the International Certification for Vocational programs in Hospitality from City & Guilds, London. This certification will enable the students to pursue their higher studies and better job prospects across the globe in the Hospitality sector.
Event Management
The Event Management course concentrates on planning, research, organizing, and leading the events, human resource management, finances, logistics, and post-event analysis. Students can develop these qualities during their early learning years while planning for their long-term career options.
With leadership and resource management skills can gain many insights from this course. The event management course can inspire students to take up careers in event planning and management for weddings, events, sports, political, music concerts, etc.
Conclusion
All the courses mentioned above are available as vocational courses in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum and the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) as optional subjects for grades 11 and 12. Some of these courses are also available in ICSE and ISC curricula.
But these courses do not get enough exposure in the traditional schooling system, and hence there are significantly fewer takers. But value-added courses like these can help many students decide their future education path and career path.
The school management and education boards must take the initiative to bring in new policies to introduce these courses into the existing curriculum and start executing the same in their respective schools.
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Disclaimer: The content shared in this blog is based on personal experiences, observations, and self-understanding through research. The details provided here are to share my thoughts with people, only for educational and informational purposes, and it is not a piece of expert professional advice to the reader. The details mentioned in this blog do not bind or compel any person to follow the methods given here. The intent to write and share this blog is to communicate some insights on the possible solutions and methods which can help people to get motivated and encourage them to start using some of these methods to achieve positive results in life.
