The announcement made by the Government of focusing on the skill-based and vocational courses will create better experts and in general an effective instructive culture in the country, says VIVEK K SINGH

Several measures have been taken by the Government to safeguard the weaker and impuissant sections of the society particularly during the pandemic. Education and employment are the two major factors that were kept in mind while structuring the Budget. There were many important announcements made.

The Government has also committed to take several steps in order to reform assessments, including reforms in Board examinations and conceptual learning. While introducing the Budget 2021-22 Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs  Nirmala Sitaraman announced that the existing National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) will be realigned with a fund of over `3,000 crore.

The NATS was launched in 2016. It was launched by the Government of India in which there were a number of skills and development programmes to benefit the students of India. It is a tremendous initiative through which the students can upgrade their skills to seek better employment opportunities.

This scheme has been realigned in the 2021-2022 Budget, in order to enhance apprenticeship opportunities for the youth. Under the scheme, `3,000 crore will be provided to train graduates and diploma holders in Engineering.

Under the scheme, training will be offered by the top notch companies. The scheme will work as a bridge between employer’s requirements and a pool of student's talent. This prioritisation of skilling will make students job-ready, in their respective domains.

Benefits of NATS

• It’s a one year programme open to all degree/diploma holders.
• This is a flagship programme introduced by the Government of India to skill up youth of the nation.
• It provides technical education by giving practical knowledge and skills in the respective domain.
• This is served by the organization (Central, State or Private) at the workplace only.
• Industry experts well acquainted with training modules will ensure the performance of apprentices.
• The apprentices get a stipend of whose 50 per cent amount is reimbursed by the Government of India.
• A certificate of proficiency by the Government , is issued to the apprentice which validates his employment experience.

Meanwhile other major announcements made in the Budget involved:

Collaboration for strengthening the education system: The Union Budget 2021 stresses on the importance of the need to collaborate with foreign institutions to strengthen and drive notable progress in the education system. The collaboration of India with UAE would benchmark assessment, skill qualification, certification, and to keep our skills up to date with respect to global trends.

There is a collaborative Training Inter Training Programme (TITS) in collaboration with Japan that will be facilitating transfer of knowledge, techniques, industrial and vocational skills of Japan. This initiative will be taken forward with more such countries in future. To encourage improved academic collaboration with foreign institutions for higher education a regulatory mechanism would put in place to allow dual/joint degrees, twinning arrangements and more such mechanisms. 

Set up of new institutions to edify the education system: Set up of a New Central University in Leh, to uplift higher education. Set up of 100 Sainik schools will take place in partnership with states, NGOs, and private schools. In tribal areas, 750 Eklavya Model residential schools will be set up to create a robust education facility for tribal students.

Amendments to enlighten school education: The Budget 2021 primarily focuses on skill development. Its emphasis on transforming the learning framework from a traditional approach to an advanced and evolved pedagogical approach for K12 students.

The presentation of the New Education Policy (NEP) has additionally been filled in as a charge for the deep rooted instructive foundation in India and we are optimistic that the Government will continue getting fundamental corrections in the future also.

The writer is CEO-co-founder, Careerera