The Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) has issued a strict directive to schools across the state, demanding the immediate deployment of vocational trainers. This urgent move is part of the ambitious 'Vocationalisation of School Education' initiative, which seeks to significantly enhance the employability of students by the time they complete their senior secondary education.
A State-Wide Push for Practical Skills
The school and mass education department is actively implementing this transformative program. It is currently running under the Samagra Shiksha and PM-Shri schemes in 1,061 schools throughout Odisha. The government's vision doesn't stop there; there are concrete plans to extend this vocational framework to an additional 311 standard schools and 171 PM-Shri schools.
This is not an entirely new concept for the state. Vocational education has been successfully piloted in approximately 60 schools since 2017. Building on this experience, the government made a pivotal decision for the 2024-25 academic year to achieve universal coverage, bringing all targeted schools under the program's umbrella.
Curriculum and Implementation Details
Currently, the 1,061 schools involved are offering two vocational trades each. To facilitate this, two dedicated trainers have been appointed per school. In a unique curricular structure, vocational education is being offered alongside third languages. Students are given the choice to study a vocational trade with either Hindi or Sanskrit. Each vocational trade is designed as a comprehensive 100-marks paper, giving it substantial academic weight.
Students have a rich array of options to choose from, with 15 different trades available under the official vocational education curriculum. This variety ensures that learners can align their education with their interests and market demands.
Addressing Delays and Ensuring Timely Execution
The process to staff these programs began in January, when OSEPA called for an Expression of Interest (EoI). Following this, vocational training providers were selected with the mandate to supply trainers to all schools on a trade-specific basis.
However, an OSEPA official identified a significant bottleneck: a delay by District Education Officers (DEOs) in facilitating the formal joining of these approved trainers. Taking serious note of this hold-up, OSEPA has recently instructed DEOs to take immediate action.
The authorities have been directed to carry out urgent verification of the approved trainers through school principals and headmasters. The paramount goal is to ensure all trainers join their respective schools before the commencement of the new academic session. To eliminate any further gaps, officers have been asked to coordinate directly with the vocational training providers, creating a seamless link between the verification and joining processes.
Stressing that the matter is of high priority, OSEPA's communication also reminded the DEOs to adhere strictly to the guidelines set forth by the Orissa High Court and the original EoI. The directive mandates that the entire process of verification and joining must be completed within strict, non-negotiable timelines to ensure the program's success and its intended benefit to students.
