The National Skill Development policy states that the skill development initiative should focus of modular, open architecture and short-term courses. The focus should be on short, relevant and effective courses that would get candidates into the workplace.
It has also suggested the separation of financing from delivery. Government funds should not be tied to government delivery initiatives alone. The NSDC will support private skill development initiatives. The option of linking financing to outcome will be explored. Instead of focusing on inputs like number of courses, number of students and faculty, it will be on aspects like placement ratios and outcomes. The focus would be on funding the candidates rather than the institutions.
Infrastructure creation for on-the-job training and apprenticeships would be encouraged. The creation of a framework for accrediting institutions and disseminating information about them based on measurable criteria are on the agenda. Ratings of public and private institutions would be put on the public domain.
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A mechanism for effective assessment and credible certification will be created so that learning quality is assured and also the credibility of the assessment and certification system. This will allow employers to use the certificate as a proxy to fast-track job applicants.
Employment exchanges will be transformed into career guidance centres to channelise candidates into jobs, apprenticeships and training. The coverage will be through:
Institution-based skill development including ITIs/ITCs/vocational schools/technical schools/ polytechnics/ professional colleges.
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Learning initiatives related to sectoral skill development organised by different ministries/departments.
Formal and informal apprenticeships and other types of training by enterprises
Training for self-employment/entrepreneurial development
Adult learning, retraining of retired or retiring employees and lifelong learning
Non-formal training including training by civil society organizations
e-learning, web-based learning and distance learning. The National Skill Development Mission’s focus with regard to the private sector will be on automobile and auto components, electronics hardware, textiles and garments, leather and leather goods, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, gem and jewellery, building and construction, food processing, handlooms and handicrafts and building hardware and home furnishings, states a Eleventh Five Year Plan document.
Skill development programmes should be delivered in modules of 6 weeks to 12 weeks; with an end of module examination/certification, it adds. Twenty-four month, 12 month and 6-month-long programmes should be considered to deal with structural, interventional and last mile unemployability.
Finishing schools should take care of last mile unemployability.