Lucknow: Following the cabinet approval, the secondary education department collaborated with Nelco Network Products Ltd, a Tata enterprise, on Saturday to establish DREAM (Design, Robotics, Electronics, Additive Manufacturing) Skill Labs in 600 government schools. The initiative aims to meet industrial demands by integrating new technical knowledge and curricula aligned with current and future technological needs.
Investment in Youth
Additional chief secretary of basic and secondary education, Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma, stated, “This agreement is not just a project, but an investment in the future of Uttar Pradesh’s youth. Considering the rapidly changing industrial requirements, it is the need of the hour to equip students with Industry 4.0-based skills. Dream Labs will become a strong medium where students will gain practical and employment-oriented skills along with traditional education.”
These labs will enable students to acquire skills and undergo personality development aligned with current and future technological and industrial demands.
Hub-and-Spoke Model
Director general of school education Monika Rani, while emphasising the effective operation of the hub-and-spoke model, installation of machinery, quality of trainers, regular attendance of students and result-based monitoring, said, “Dream Skill Labs will give new direction to vocational education.” A total of 600 schools across 75 districts of the state, including 150 hub schools and 450 spoke schools, have been included. In the first phase, 72 labs will be set up, followed by 144 and 384 in the second and third phases, respectively.
Advanced Technologies
Officials said Dream Labs would be developed as modern innovation and skill development centres, where students from Classes 9 to 12 would receive practical training in advanced technologies such as AI, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, advanced manufacturing, battery-operated electric vehicles, electronics, agricultural science, renewable energy, drone technology and design thinking.
Alignment with National Policies
This project is in line with the National Education Policy 2020, National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and Skill India Mission.
Partnership Model
Under the five-year partnership model, Nelco Ltd will provide advanced machinery, digital platforms, software and maintenance support. Industry experts will train students and ensure capacity building of teachers so that the model can become self-reliant in the long run.
