In a landmark achievement for skill-based learning in India, the Board of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh (BIEAP), has etched its name in the history books. It has become the first school education board in the country to receive formal recognition from the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) as an awarding body under the dual category.
A Formal Agreement for Future Skills
The pivotal agreement was officially signed between NCVET and BIEAP on Friday. This recognition grants BIEAP the authority to award, assess, and certify learners in vocational courses where the training is directly provided by the Board. This applies to courses run through its own campuses or training centres that are owned, controlled, or fully managed by BIEAP.
The authorization covers qualifications that BIEAP approves or adopts, ensuring they are in strict alignment with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). This move is set to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements at the school level.
Boosting Employability with National Standards
From an institutional standpoint, this is a transformative step for strengthening vocational education at the intermediate level in Andhra Pradesh. The NCVET recognition enables BIEAP to align its vocational programmes with national skill standards. The immediate benefits are twofold:
- Wider Acceptance: Certificates issued by BIEAP will now have national portability and recognition.
- Improved Employability: Students will possess skills that meet industry benchmarks, significantly enhancing their job prospects.
As part of the initial rollout, the Sericulture Technician qualification proposed by BIEAP has already received the green light from NCVET. This course is strategically chosen to provide industry-relevant skills in a sector with strong employment potential within the state.
Leadership and Vision for Youth Empowerment
NCVET has expressed strong confidence that this collaboration with BIEAP will play a key role in empowering youth with future-ready skills and opening up national-level career pathways.
Reacting to this development, Andhra Pradesh's IT and Education Minister, Nara Lokesh, took to social media platform X to share his delight. He hailed the achievement as a "national first" for BIE Andhra Pradesh. The minister emphasized that this milestone would pave the way for nationally recognised vocational certifications, beginning with the approved Sericulture Technician course, thereby vastly expanding skill-based opportunities for young learners in the state.
BIEAP, in its statement, affirmed that this recognition reinforces its commitment to a crucial mission: integrating vocational education with mainstream academics and expanding skill-based learning across Andhra Pradesh. This initiative marks a significant leap towards creating a more skilled and employable workforce, directly contributing to the state's and nation's economic growth.
