December 15, 2025 05:39 am (IST)
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Punjab govt, NSDC to introduce vocational education at senior secondary schools
Kolkata/Punjab, July 25 (IBNS): National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Government of Punjab.
This memorandum of understanding is for collaboration under the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF), to introduce Vocational Education in Senior Secondary Schools in Punjab.
This is in line with the state government’s plan to impart vocational skills to the youth of Punjab.
This project has been approved for the state by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India and accordingly Punjab will be implementing the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) from the academic year 2014-15.
The aim is to start the project at Level 1 (Class 9th) in about 100 government schools with the goal to make students employable when they complete secondary education.
The project will be jointly funded by Central Government and the State Government under RMSA with sharing pattern of 75:25.
The courses offered will be industry driven based upon National Occupational Standards (NOS) set by Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) in association with NSDC in six sectors, namely, Automobile, IT /ITES, Retail, Healthcare, Security and Beauty & Wellness. The courses will be introduced in a normal track mode in Class 9th for level 1, going up to level 4 for class 12 students.
Before the commencement of every academic year, RMSA will review with NSDC and consider introducing courses under other sectors.
Daljeet Singh Cheema, Education Minister, Government of Punjab said, “We are happy to associate with an organization like NSDC and aim at creating new opportunities for the youth of our state. This project is expected to improve employability of the students passing from these courses because of industry driven inputs and exposure. This will be ensured by enhanced employment (minimum 70% placed in workplace as employees or interns) of the students achieving Level 4 certification.”
“The project also aims at reducing the school dropout rates and better attendance levels due to better job prospects. Linking this program to State Open Schools should also encourage prior school dropouts to complete their education”, he further added.
The Punjab state government will outsource the training delivery to the NSDC training partners who are affiliated to the respective Sector Skill Council and are also funded by NSDC.
The recommendation of selecting the affiliated training partner to the Punjab Education Department will be provided by the respective SSCs formed by NSDC. The appointed training partners will the faculty/ trainers as per the teacher recruitment guidelines set by NSDC and SSCs.
Promising a brighter future for the students of Punjab, Atul Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, National Skill Development Corporation said, “We are honoured to partner with the Government of Punjab in this valuable initiative. This is one step further in achieving our target of skilling 150 million Indians by 2022. We will ensure that we make this program a success and establish a module that benefits and brightens the future of the youth of Punjab.”
NSDC will be completely responsible for the training and delivery, under this project.
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