Vocational education courses play a significant role in reducing the dropout rate, says Samagra Shiksha State Project Director

Encouraging students to pursue vocational skills alongside academics to reduce dropout rates and nurture individual interests.

Samagra Shiksha State Project Director B. Srinivasa Rao on Sunday (March 2) said students should be encouraged to evince interest in vocational skills along with academics.

Addressing the inaugural session of a five-day training programme for vocational trainers, organised at Maris Stella College, Vijayawada, Mr. Srinivasa Rao informed that Samagra Shiksha was offering vocational education courses in 10 trades for students from Classes 9 to 12. “No student should be left behind due to lack of academic interest. Some students may have an inclination towards sports, while others may be interested in science. It is our responsibility to identify their interests and provide special training to nurture their skills,” he said, adding that vocational education courses played a significant role in reducing the dropout rate among students.

In the first phase, training is being provided in IT trade at Maris Stella College, Vijayawada, while training in Agriculture, Food Processing, Healthcare, Home Appliances and Garment Making trades is being given at St. Joseph’s College, Guntur. He said the first phase of training will conclude on March 4, and the second phase will begin on March 7 for vocational trainers in the remaining trades including Beauty & Wellness, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Retail, Automotive and Electronics and Hardware. Around 2,000 trainers are undergoing training across 10 trades, the SPD informed.