How NEP 2020 Promotes Vocational Education?

Learning in school goes beyond basic maths and science. The majority of India’s unskilled, artisanal, or traditional workforce does not get access to the required vocational or job-related education and training in schools, leading to underdeveloped labour forces. Through courses and hands-on lessons, vocational education teaches students specialised skills for specific jobs.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recognises the importance of vocational education (EV) and its integration with general education. To promote skill development and vocational education, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has taken several initiatives in this area, such as internships, bagless days, more exposure to vocational skills, etc.

For effective implementation, the NEP 2020 vocational education has several redesigned elements to make it more flexible, accessible, relevant, inclusive, creative, and diverse.

NEP 2020 Focuses on Vocational Education

The NEP 2020 proposes a total revision and revamping of education in all aspects, including the structure, regulation, and governance. The focus of NEP 2020 is also on vocational education, and according to the policy, at least 50% of high school students will have exposure to vocational education by 2025. The aim of NEP 2020 vocational education is:

• Overcome social hierarchy associated with vocational education,
• Integrating quality vocational education with general education in a phased manner,
• Begin vocational exposure at an early age,
• Encourage secondary and higher secondary schools to collaborate with Polytechnics, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), local industries, etc., to give students on-the-job exposure and training.
• Set up skill labs in schools,
• Celebrate the dignity of labour and various vocations such as Indian arts and artisanship.

Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE) in Bhopal is the central agency for organising various vocational teachers’ training programmes. Initially, a 10-day induction training program for vocational training is conducted by respective States or Union Territories in collaboration with PSSCIVE Sector Skill Councils, SCERT, and other stakeholders.

Other training programmes are regularly conducted by PSSCIVE, covering aspects of NEP 2020 on vocational education, vocational pedagogy, employability skills, and using the latest technologies. PSSCIVE also conducts subject-specific training, allowing vocational education trainers to upskill and upgrade their knowledge.

Why We Need Vocational Education?

The current vocational education and training system needs a boost and upgrades as it is unorganised, fragmented, and lacks quality. Skill-based education is needed to increase the employability of the workforce. With the right kind of vocational training and education, the youth of our country can progress and get better jobs, which will lead to the economic growth and development of India.

So, the aim of NEP 2020 is to reform the vocational education norms and structure so that they align with the requirements of the changing environmental and industrial needs.

What are the Problems of Vocational Education in the Present Education System?

While the need for vocational education cannot be emphasised enough, many problems arise in how it is implemented correctly. The basic structure is weak, and the programme does not get the attention it requires. The tie-ups with industries are also not very strong, and teachers lack the training needed. All of these issues lead to students not acquiring the skills, a lack of employment opportunities, fewer enrolments for vocational education programmes, etc.

What Are the Challenges to VET and How to Resolve Them?

With the NEP 2020 vocational education and training (VET) initiative being launched in full swing, many schools and colleges will provide the same to millions of students in the coming decade. A few challenges will likely arise when implementing such a vast policy across a big country like ours. The challenges to VET and the way forward are mentioned below:

Challenge	Way Forward
Overcome social stigma and class hierarchy around vocational education.	Early vocational exposure to students. Various education, information, and media campaigns. Exposure to VE via brochures, short films, etc. Increase awareness amongst people towards VE.
Merge VE with regular education, ensuring gender equality, social inclusion, and inclusive education.	Promote skill-based learning from early stages. Change the curriculum to merge vocational skills and knowledge. Provide more internships and on-the-job training opportunities. Introduce aptitude tests and provide guidance to help students make informed career choices. Define National Occupation Standards (NOSs) by setting learning outcomes that are applied consistently across institutes. Enhanced teacher participation through teacher training. Procure private sector funding and participation in VET.
Introduce LokVidya in schools. (Indigenous skills and knowledge)	Provide internships at local artisans and craft workshops. Students training under local industry experts. Active participation of communities for more vocational exposure.
Make horizontal mobility of vocational students in school possible. Integrate 21st-century entrepreneurship and skills education in schools.	Tie-ups with ITIs, local industries, farmers, hospitals, craftsmen, etc., through the Hub and Spoke model to impart skills training. Teach employability skills in schools. Prepare students for Industry 4.0 by integrating new technologies in VET Launch new vocational courses on the latest topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), etc.
Promote online VE	Introduce new learning techniques, and digital tools, like Massive Open Online Courses, etc.
Make the assessment and evaluation system more comprehensive.	Conduct more aptitude tests to find out the special skills and abilities of students. Measure learning outcomes with not only marks but other things such as group work, presentations, worksheets, etc. for an overall assessment and evaluation of all students.
Encourage vertical mobility of vocational students.	Various courses designed under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) will allow vertical mobility of vocational students.
Better training programmes for vocational teachers.	Enhancing capacities of vocational teachers. Offer multiple online and offline training courses. Invite industry experts to train the teachers. Ensure all vocational teachers get standardised training. Collaborate with industries and research institutes to provide innovative training to teachers.

Integrating the Latest Technology with Education

NEP 2020 reinforces the extensive and positive use of technology to develop skills and for vocational education. This will help to meet the growing market demands. Integrating technology into the school and education curriculum guarantees the required changes and transformation of the educational sector.

NEP 2020 aims to remove geographical barriers, provide interactive digital content, personalise learning with adaptive technologies, and promote collaboration between Indian students and global experts by adopting the latest technologies.

Various grants are given to States/UTs to further accommodate vocational education. One non-recurring grant under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme is for purchasing tools and equipment, like furniture, computers, etc., which will help build the required infrastructure for vocational education in schools.

Conclusion

The focus on vocational education in NEP 2020 is the correct step for achieving a better skilled and empowered workforce in our country. Vocational education is an important part of students’ overall education, and providing the required infrastructure, technology, and training for it is a great initiative under NEP 2020.

Last Updated on January 13, 2025