UNESCO launches 2020 State of the Education Report for India: Vocational Education First

New Delhi: The ‘State of the Education Report for India 2020: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), was launched virtually today by UNESCO New Delhi, with over 400 attendees, including representatives from the government, civil society, academia, partners and youth.

The second edition of the State of Education Report focuses on technical and vocational education and training (TVET). India’s often cited demographic dividend, the aspirations of its youth and the skill requirements of the growing economy – all hinge on a well-functioning TVET system for achieving an inclusive and equitable growth that will propel the country to the next phase of socio-economic development. The Report aims to support the Government of India which has already announced skills development as a key national priority under the Skill India Mission.

Eric Falt, Director, UNESCO New Delhi, “The Report identifies TVET as a key tool for recovery and rehabilitation through a rapid response system of skilling, upskilling and re-skilling. Despite the challenges, the global COVID 19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to expand the digitalization of vocational education and training ensuring the use of distance learning and digital tools”.

Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Government of India said, “With the recent launch of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the relevance of this report is enhanced further as it provides useful inputs for implementing the ideas proposed in the 2020 NEP. I hope this publication will enable cross learning among the multiple stakeholders of the vast vocational education ecosystem and adoption of best practices”.

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Shri Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon’ble Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India said, “Our Ministry is making continuous efforts to enable social justice and livelihoods through quality lifelong learning opportunities for all. This report, I am sure will provide useful guidance and promising practices towards our endeavour and ongoing efforts towards the achievement of the Skill India mission”.

Mathew Joseph, AIF’s India Country Director said, “As technical and financial partner to UNESCO’s TVET State of the Education Report 2020, the American India Foundation aims to build upon its strong legacy of education and livelihood programmes for India’s youth and women, through remote learning and virtual skilling methods, thereby aligning with the National Education Policy 2020. A rapidly evolving employment landscape, brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, has necessitated that skilling be reoriented towards the needs of the hour”.

With an in-depth analysis of the current state of TVET in India highlighting next practices and recommendations, the Report aims to serve as a reference tool for enhancing and influencing the policies and programs related to skills development in India. It can be used by TVET practitioners, policy makers, private sector and donor agencies for planning future engagements in the TVET sector in India.

India is at an exciting stage today, having made considerable progress towards its goal of creating a skilled workforce of 110 million people by 2022, as stated in the National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (NPSDE), released in 2015 [NPSDE 2015]. It is presently training 10 million youth annually through the many schemes that are ongoing.

The Report provides an overview of the present capacity for TVET provision through short-term and long-term courses, by state as well as non-state actors, and also through educational institutions such as schools, colleges and universities. It discusses previous education policies, and the approach to TVET provision in the light of the priorities of the country as reflected in NEP 2020, as also the priorities that have come with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations (UN).

The report earmarked 10 key factors to improve the state of TVET in India. To read those 10 factors, click here

The substance of the Report has been developed by an experienced team of researchers from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, under the guidance of UNESCO New Delhi. The technical and financial partner — American India Foundation (AIF), is a leading not-for-profit organization committed to improving the lives of India’s underprivileged, with a special focus on women, children, and youth.

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