“Efforts needed to standardise vocational training system”

Kumar Jayant (left), Commissioner of Technical Education, Government of Tamil Nadu having a word with A. Kalanidhi, vice-chairman, Common Wealth Science and technology Academy for Research, Chennai. S. Mohan (right), Director, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research looks on.

The need for providing skill development training was stressed at a two-day workshop inaugurated here on Friday.

Speaking at the workshop on ‘National Skill Development: Role of Industries and Trainers,' Kumar Jayant, Commissioner of Technical Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, said there was acute skill shortage in the industry. Across sectors unskilled labourers were performing the job of skilled labourers. In order to meet the needs of the industry, the Central government planned to train 10 million persons annually, he said.

Unlike the higher education system, which had been systematically formulated and standardised, the vocational training has not been standardised.

It was still disjointed. Efforts should be made to standardise the vocational training system, he opined. While preparing the curriculum one should take into account the individual's needs too. Equal importance should be given to theoretical knowledge, he added.

Periodical training

In his inaugural address A. Kalanidhi, Vice-Chairman, Common Wealth Science and Technology Academy for Research, Chennai and former Vice-Chancellor, Anna University, said 35 per cent of the total population lacked this kind of skill development programmes.

The existing skilled persons should be provided periodical training as technologies keep developing.

Nearly 1,500 institutions in the State imparted technical education, which included engineering colleges, polytechnics and Industrial Training Institutes.

Industry experts should be invited to share information among students of these institutions, he said.

Institutions such as National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) could help in the achieving the Central Government's target of training 10 million persons annually, he added. The programme was organised by the NITTTR.