Goa: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant wants career oriented courses to be introduced from the next academic year. He has directed the departments of education and higher education to examine the current curriculum on offer and eliminate courses that don’t offer vertical growth.
Further, highlighting the need for aptitude testing and career counselling for students, Sawant said that each school will compulsorily have to ensure that at least two of its teachers receive training in career counselling.
Many vocational courses have become outdated. From June onwards, we will introduce job-oriented courses,” Sawant told the House replying to a question tabled by Mayem MLA Praven Zantye on Monday.
Sawant said the departments of education and skill development and the Goa Education Development Corporation are already on the job.
He also said that many ITI students do not complete the compulsory internship. He told skill development minister Vishwajit Rane to instruct principals of ITIs to ensure that their students complete the apprenticeship.
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat suggested that the new courses be designed in consultation with needs of various industries so that when companies hire, locals are not left out only due to lack of required skills.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte raised the issue of the high student dropout rates between classes VIII and X and XI and XII.
Sawant said that he is working on solutions for both issues.
Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.