A University Degree vs. Vocational Training: Which one to choose?

In recent decades higher education has almost become the fashion as well as status symbol in society.

As per 2011-12 survey reports on Higher Education reports of Department Higher Education, Ministry of Human Reports Development, Government of India there few important things to note:

1. Total enrolment in higher education has been estimated to be 28.56 million with 15.87 million boys and 12.69 million girls. Girls constitute 44.4% of the total enrolment.   
2. There are 83 Technical, 33 Agriculture, 24 Medical, 17 law and 10 Veterinary Universities
3. College density, i.e. the number of colleges per lakh eligible population (population in the age‐group 18‐23 years) varies from 6 in Bihar to 64 in Puducherry as compared to All India average of 25
4. Maximum numbers of Students are enrolled in B.A. programme followed by B.Com and B.Sc. programmes. Only 20 Programmes out of approximately 150 cover 83% of the total students enrolled in higher education
5. At Undergraduate, level the highest number (34%) of students is enrolled in Arts followed by Engineering & Technology (19%), Commerce (14.5%) and Science (12%).
6. Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) in Universities and Colleges is 25.6

When we read the points carefully and try to analyse the details, we find that there is huge gap in education system, We have 34% of undergraduates in Arts stream which is out of date today. BA pass is having no value in today's job interview. Now interviewer gives the advantage to candidate having professional degrees like BBA, BCA, BTech, BSc, B Pharma, BLib etc. along with some technical knowledge and experience in the domain.

Vocational Training

Here comes the confusion to a BA Pass Candidate. Should he invest on his skills though vocational courses or continue with his BA Pass Certificate and struggle further? Those who identify and recognize earlier the future of their career via vocational courses get swift move on the heights of their career. While a normal graduate keep struggling for government jobs or little paying private jobs. 

The current scenario is like a boom to the vocational courses. These courses offer better jobs with good paymasters of the industry. For example an electrician who has passed out the knowledge based technical vocational course of electrician and possess a industry recognised certificate (Like from NSDC) will be given preference than a traditional electrician. 

As per the choice of career, it is better to decide from University Degree and Vocational Training after matriculation. With guidance and counselling of an expert this could be done easily. This will be immense helpful to youth in making right decision for their career and future of life as well.

Kudumbashree - Kerala (State Poverty Eradication Mission)

In the State of Kerala, Kudumbashree has been panacea in eradication of poverty among the peoples of State. Since its inception in 1998 as a State Mission, it has played vital role in making people aware about better livelihoods, enterprise development, skill development and employments.

In all 14 districts of Kerala, there are District Mission Coordinators who is instrumental in achieving the goals of mission. Being the most educated State of country, It has over 90 percent literate peoples. However there is huge gap in traditional education and current demand of job industry. 

In order to minimize the skill gap, Kudumbashree has sensitized the youths of urban and rural areas with awareness of placement linked skill development programs like DDU-GKY, PMKVY, SDI and others. They have already engaged many public and private sector training agency in public private partnership (PPP) mode.

As on 30 June 2016 Kudumbashree has trained 6948 Candidates and Placed 3308 Candidates under DDU-GKY program which is sponsored by Ministry of Rural Development as per the link provided below. 

http://kudumbashree.org/sites/all/themes/kudumbashree/uploads/downloads/136310061_Kudumbashree%20DDUGKY%20AchievementStatus.pdf

The biggest challange for Kerala and Kudumbashree both is to handle educated employment. The dynamics of supply and demand in educated manpower in labor market is now growth oriented. Skill Development programs have been immense helpful in proving employment and opportunities to them. 

Employers and industrialist have now shown their interest towards the skilled and educated manpower which is easy available here in the State. Any champion employer would definitely like to take advantage of this. State Mission  "Kudumbashree" is the nodal agency of contact for any such initiative and could be contacted for same.

The office of State Mission "Kudumbashree" could be contacted on below mention details:

Address: State Poverty Eradication Mission

2nd Floor, TRIDA Rehabilitation Building

Chalakuzhy Road, Medical College 

PO.Thiruvananthapuram -695011

Kerala, India

Email Id: info@kudumbashree.org 

Ph: 91-471-2554714

      91-471-2554715

      91-471-2554716

Skill India की जरुरत क्यों है? इसका फायदा किसे होगा ?

हमारा देश भारत एक विकासशील देश है।  आबादी के अनुपात में हम विश्व  में दूसरे नंबर पर है जबकि क्षेत्रफल के अनुपात में सातवे नंबर पर।  हमारी आबादी हमारे देश के लिए अभिशाप और वरदान दोनों है।  आज से कुछ साल पहले तक विदेशी पर्यटक हमारे गरीब, भूखे, नंगे, फटेहाल लोगो की तस्वीरे खींच कर ले जाते थे। लेकिन अब हमारे युवाओं ने अपने कौशल और हुनर का लोहा पुरे विश्व में मनवाया है। गूगल के सुन्दर पिचाई हो या चेस के विश्वनाथन आनंद या क्रिकेट के भगवन सचिन तेंदुलर, रिलायन्स के मुकेश अम्बानी, लोग भारत को तेजी से उभरती हुई आर्थिक महाशक्ति के रूप में देख रहे है।

भारत दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा बाजार है।  यहाँ हर वर्ग के लोग मिल जाते है। ऐसे में जो कुशल है उनकी मांग बढ़ जाती है। एक सर्वे के अनुसार भारत में कौशल विकास का आनुपात सिर्फ 10% है।

Percentage of workforce receiving skill training (2008)

 Source:Planning Commission Report (2008)

वर्ष 2016 में यह अनुपात सिर्फ 15 % है। अभी भी हम जापान और कोरिया जैसे देशो से स्किल डेवलपमेंट में बहुत पीछे है। इससे ये तो स्पष्ट है की भारत में स्किल डेवलपमेंट की कितनी जरुरत है।  अब दूसरे प्रश्न पर आते है इसका फायदा किसे होगा ?

किसी भी देश को विकसित हम तभी कहते है जब वह की जनता के रहन सहन और व्यव्हार में सम्पन्नता और समृद्धि नजर आता है। उस देश का प्रति व्यक्ति आय अधिक होता है।  

अब जब भारत के लोग स्किल्ड होंगे तो उन्हें मेहनताना अच्छा मिलेगा और उनकी आय में वृद्धि होगी। लोग आर्थिक और सामाजिक रूप से समृद्ध होंगे।  गरीबी और बेरोजगारी जैसे समस्या से छुटकारा मिलेगा।  हमारे विकास से परिवार विकसित होगा, परिवार से समाज, समाज से गांव, गांव से पंचायत, पंचायत से विकासखंड, विकासखंड से जिला, जिला से राज्य और राज्य से सम्पूर्ण देश विकसित हो जायेगा।  और शायद हम सब लोग भी यही दिन देखना चाहते है। 

इस सपना को पूरा करने के लिए हम सबका स्किल इंडिया मिशन से जुड़ना जरुरी है।  हो सकता है हमें सीधे तौर  पर कोई आर्थिक लाभ तुरंत न मिले पर अपने आने वाले पीढ़ी का भविष्य अवश्य सुरक्षित हो जायेगा।

आपके आस पास भी स्किल डेवलपमेंट की योजनाएँ चल रही होगी या शुरू होने वाली होगी।  आप यथासंभव इस पुण्य कार्य में अपना योगदान दे।

स्किल इंडिया... स्किल वर्ल्ड   

आपके सुझाव एवं विचार निचे कमेंट बॉक्स में आमंत्रित है।