Skill-based education to be part of the 11th and 12th class syllabus

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan  said that the  government plans to make skill-based learning a part  of the syllabus for 11th and 12th class students, following the vision of NEP 2020 to make practical skills the focus of learning. This is a significant step to transform the current education system in India which is based on degrees to a competence based system which can equip students to survive in the modern world where there are many demands.

 

What Has Been Announced?

Pradhan emphasized at an event at IIT Madras that the Ministry of Education was actively going to formulate a curriculum to formally incorporate skill based subjects in senior secondary education. The shift is aimed at striking a balance between traditional academic qualification and practical, real-world skills, which enhance employability and productivity. Hitherto, skill education was largely optional and selective; in the future, it will be incorporated as part of the curriculum. 

What Is the Importance of Skill-based Learning?

This change of policy is a response to the changing job market in India in which employers are already seeking multi-skilled and flexible graduates who can do the work skillfully. The driving force of this plan is the vision of NEP 2020, which highlights the focus on holistic development, learning through experience, and the necessity to bridge the gap between the knowledge gained in classrooms and its implementation in the real world. The government plans to ensure a future-ready workforce by incorporating digital literacy, coding, AI, and drone technology in schools so that students can perform well in the current and upcoming sectors.   

Roadmap and Important Details of Implementation

• The Ministry is trying to implement the new curriculum as soon as possible and similar reforms are under consideration since Class 6. 
• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) already provides more than 40 skill subjects in senior secondary courses, including data science, financial literacy, and photography aligned to career alignment through the National Skill Qualifications Framework (NSQF). 
• By the year 2026, all CBSE-affiliated schools have been instructed to have Composite Skill Labs which offer practical project based courses and experience of various career options.  
• The new teaching resources will include the NCERT designed textbooks called the Kaushal Bodh, which are experiential learning-based textbooks. 

 

Why does it matter to Students and Schools?

1. Students in senior secondary (Classes 11 and 12) will shortly be studying at least one skill based subject to develop practical knowledge in addition to academic education.
2. The schools will have to increase the training of teachers, infrastructure, and learning materials to provide new modules.
3. The early introduction of the topics of the skills, starting as early as in Class 6, is likely to provide the solid base of life-long learning and flexibility.

 

Education Ministry Perspectives

Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a right point when saying that we require degrees and certification and we require making students competent also. The reforms being undertaken currently aim at making sure that the youth of India are not only receiving degrees but also the skills that they require to be able to succeed in the real world.

 

Overall, mandatory skill-based learning in Classes 11 and 12 is a revolutionizing step in enhancing Indian education to be more employability-focused, industry-oriented and internationally competitive compared to the previous state of affairs, which is long overdue by both students and the stakeholders in the industry.