The Board of Apprenticeship Training (Southern Region), Chennai, an autonomous body of Ministry of Human Resource Development, interviewed Plus Two students in vocational stream at Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Srirangam, on Saturday for inducting them as Technician Apprentices.
Students now in Plus Two as also those who had completed their higher secondary in vocational stream from 2010 to 2012 took part in the certificate verification process carried out by officials of the board in the presence of Chief Educational Officer K.Selvakumar and other senior officials of school education department.
307 students
According to official sources, 307 students took part. Of them, 97 were chosen by participating industries and banks. This exercise of the board was first of its kind to create awareness that vocational certificate holders in Plus Two are eligible to join as industrial apprentices.
The board will issue a Government of India Certificate to the candidates completing their one-year training under the scheme. Industries deem it as a year of experience.
Statutory obligation
Under the Apprentices Act, it is mandatory for all organisations to notify the strength of apprentices every year as a statutory obligation. Ashok Leyland Limited; Indian Overseas Bank; Brakes India Ltd.; all Central, Town and Urban Cooperative Banks; BHEL, Tiruchi; BHEL, Ranipet; and Canara Bank offer training for higher secondary (vocational) candidates with stipends ranging from Rs.1,970 to Rs.7,000 per month. Industries are unable to get the required number of higher secondary (vocational) passed candidates for training.
Earlier in the day, Assistant Director, Board of Apprenticeship Training, Southern Region, Kiruba Shankar, briefed vocational stream teachers on the significance of apprenticeship training for students at a young age.
