Conference Report - The National Institute of Open Schooling

1. Conference Proceedings
Inaugural Session
Rapporteurs: Dr. Sandhya Kumar & Mr. Parthish Paul
The inaugural session started with the welcome of
Chief Guest, Ms. Anshu Vaish, Secretary, Department
of Secondary Education and Literacy (SE&L), MHRD and
Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, UNESCO representative for Bhutan,
India, Maldives and Sri Lanka by presentation of flowers by
Dr. S.S. Jena, Chairman, NIOS from the ceremonial Lamp
was lit by the dignitaries.
Lighting of the lamp by Smt. Anshu Vaish, Secretary (SE&L) MHRD,
Govt. of India
While giving inaugural address, Dr. S.S. Jena, Chairman
NIOS, welcomed the delegates and emphasized that a large
section of India’s population is the youth who is in need of
proper skill training and education at all levels. He stated
that we have a working model of Academic and Vocational
education which needs to be rearranged so that education is
linked with livelihood. NIOS with its limited infrastructure
has limitations of man and machine, yet a collaborative effort
has to be made to promote vocational education. He
emphasized that we need to create a workable framework
in conjunction with NVEQF being developed by MHRD.
Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, Director, UNESCO, commended
Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India
for its seamless efforts to educate all. He mentioned
UNESCO’s strategy to support vocational education which
focuses on three core areas - provision to upstream policy
advice and related capacity development; conceptual
clarification of skill development; and acting as a clearing
house. Considering the size and diversity of the country, India
needs flexible education interventions to enhance capabilities
and core technical skills to sustain its inclusive, economic
growth and development. The emphasis is on high quality
employment. Human capital development can take place in
schools but the need is to find which skills can be developed
in schools and which out of schools. Multi-level work for
better work force is the need of the hour. Interaction between
various technical sectors is needed for all around
development.
He concluded by suggesting that all present would consider
strengthening cooperation between various technical agencies,
institutions and experts on the one hand and industry on the
other. This would create a dialogue and exchange of
information on technical and vocational education issues in
secondary education allowing for brainstorming and adoption
of an action plan for effective implementation of
recommendations and strengthening of TVET education in
India.
Mrs. Anshu Vaish, the Chief Guest, stated the need for giving
academic education along with vocational training to learners.
She emphasized the need for provision of mobility to all
learners - lateral as well as vertical. Young workers with
strong basic academic skills in combination with vocational
skills, are what employers look for. Lack of trained trainers
is a major challenge in vocational training. She referred to
the Skill Development Mission which is intended to:
– Identify need based demand of skilled employment,
and
– Assess need requirement for various players.
She reiterated the need of vocational education which was
talked about since Independence and was emphasized by
Kothari Commission, to direct 50% of secondary school
population to vocational training so as to reduce the burden
on Higher education or university system. She pointed out
that general education has always been the first choice in
India and vocational education is seen as the last resort - a
situation that needs to be changed. And the solution to this
may be providing opportunities for vertical and horizontal
growth. With the implementation of NVEQF, seamless
horizontal and vertical mobility may become a reality for
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