Kerala: Vocational schools to lose funds in 2018

Thiruvananthapuram: With the state government yet to implement, National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF), the vocational higher secondary schools in Kerala are on the verge of losing funds for skill training from Central government, from 2018. The Union Ministry for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship had already made it clear that funds for skill training would be released to government institutions for skill training only if they joined NSQF by the end of 2017. As per the plan, NSQF will become compulsory for a government job by 2020.

The Central government was also planning to integrate vocational education, skill training, general education, technical education and the job market. The Centre had also made it clear that it would make mandatory for youth going abroad to be certified by NSQF in the future. Sources said that various teachers’ organisations in the vocational higher secondary sector were opposing the implementation of NSQF fearing introduction of stringent rules for promotion.  This was the reason for the delay in its introduction in the state. However, sources said that state government has now understood the gravity of the situation and was taking steps to speed up the process for implementing the NSQF. NSQF is a competency-based framework that organised all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude.