For many students, mathematics or social science has always been ‘two’ much to
handle. For them the coming academic year has an option. They have been
provided with the luxury of leaving one of the subjects out, and instead,
choosing vocational training.
The directorate of education (DoE) issued circulars to all schools under its
ambit last month informing them that they could choose to opt for a scheme
under which they can provide students of standards IX and X the option of a
vocational subject as replacement for either mathematics or social science.
According to education officials, the scheme—jointly funded by the state and
Centre—has been framed based on the guidelines for vocational education by the
central government and is expected to arrest the dropout rate in higher
classes.
“Students mostly drop out in standards VIII, IX and X. Providing them the
option of vocational education at this level as replacement for tougher
subjects, will ensure that the students are retained in school. It will also
act as a base for pursuing vocational education at the higher secondary level,”
said deputy director of education G P Bhat, who is also officer on special duty
to the education minister.
>From standard IX onwards, students will be able to choose from a string of
>vocational subjects if they find mathematics or social science syllabi tough.
>Household wiring, repairs of electrical appliances, electronics, tailoring,
>horticulture, floriculture, vegetable gardening, mushroom farming are some of
>the subjects students can choose as replacement.
Bhat said schools have already been issued detailed guidelines along with the
circular on how the vocational courses should be implemented. The necessary
equipment for the courses will be provided by DoE while teachers will be
appointed by the state on contract basis.
In case of schools where the necessary infrastructure is not avail-able, two to
three schools could be clubbed together and share the available infrastructure.
For subjects like horticulture, for example, “on-field” training will be
provided.
Officials said that if more than one school in the vicinity has opted for a
single vocational subject, one contract teacher will be shared by a maximum of
three such schools.
However, it is not clear by when the teachers will be appointed.
The curriculum for the vocational courses has been prepared by the Goa Board of
Secondary and Higher Secondary Education and approved by the state.
Technical education in schools already exists from standard VIII to X, but for
most part it remains limited, imparting education in traditional courses like
carpentry and electricals.
According to official sources, 22 schools have written to the DoE thus far,
making known their interest in providing their students the choice of a
vocational subject as replacement.
DoE is hoping that besides reducing the drop out rate the scheme will also help
increase enrolment in vocational courses in higher secondary schools.
The scheme was first mooted when Dayanand Narvekar was finance minister in the
Digambar Kamat led government, but the sanctioned funds for vocational
education were not utilized.
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