Chennai: More than 20,000 higher secondary students in Tamil Nadu began internships with industries in Nov as part of efforts by school education department to strengthen vocational education. But, there are gaps in implementing the programme effectively, experts say.
In Chennai, only 20 govt schools offer vocational stream, far from the state’s vision of covering all schools. According to TN vocational teachers’ kazhagam president SN Janardhanan, many schools have shut down these streams due to retiring trainers and a lack of replacements.
For the 2023-24 academic year, the vocational stream was merged with the national skills qualification framework (NSQF) under Samagra Shiksha, redirecting resources to revamp higher secondary schools. The curriculum and textbooks were updated in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) to emphasise hands-on training and industry exposure.
The department sought 22 crore to establish and upgrade vocational labs, but the proposal is pending approval, leaving schools without adequate infrastructure. To address trainer shortages, the department plans to onboard industry professionals as guest lecturers and hire part-time trainers from companies. “This approach ensures students get real-world insights without the need for constant teacher training,” said a coordinator of the vocational education project.
Additional plans include introducing ‘earn while you learn’ programmes for Class XII students and forming a skill education revamp committee. Collaborations with TNSDC and the guidance department aim to create clearer pathways for students pursuing higher education or careers.
Educationist Prince Gajendra Babu highlighted the historical neglect of vocational education, citing schools like General Cariappa Higher Secondary School in Saligramam, which once had 11 vocational streams but now has only three.
