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World Bank study recommends skill-based training to enhance jobs in multiple sectors
Context:
Services sector jobs and agriculture income enhancement present large opportunities for school-based skilling, according to “Jobs at Your Doorsteps,” a skill gap study prepared by the World Bank
Skill Gap Study by World Bank: An Overview
- Key Focus Area of the Report: The World Bank’s “Jobs at Your Doorsteps” report emphasises addressing skill gaps in India to enhance employability and entrepreneurial opportunities for youth.
- Why the Need for Skill Education?
- India hosts nearly a fifth of the world’s youth, necessitating preparation for jobs, self-employment, and entrepreneurship to achieve its ambitious economic goals.
- The study analysed industries and local enterprises across six states—Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan—to evaluate entry-level job and entrepreneurial potential.
- Labour market trends across primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors were examined, with a focus on how school-based skill education can address these opportunities.
About Skill Education
- What is Skill Education?: Skill education imparts practical, technical, and employability skills to students, preparing them for jobs, self-employment, or further education.
- Policy Frameworks Supporting Skill Education:
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- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curricular Framework (NCF) 2023 prioritise integrating skill education into school curricula.
- The report identifies 14 key sectors capable of addressing most high-demand jobs and entrepreneurship needs.
- Industry Expectations:Employers stress the importance of multi-skilled individuals with abilities in: Problem-solving , Teamwork, Adaptability and Digital literacy.
Using School-Based Skilling to Provide Employment:
- Linking Students to Employment Opportunities: Skill education can connect students directly to local job opportunities and entrepreneurship avenues.
- Customising Curricula for Local Needs: Tailoring school curricula to local economic requirements helps students acquire relevant multi-skill exposure.
- Developing Dual Skill Sets: Technical skills are complemented by essential employability skills like communication, adaptability, and financial literacy, ensuring students are prepared for diverse career paths.
- Skill Hubs and Pathways for Growth: Establishing skill hubs and aligning curricula with local economies are essential for effective implementation.
Key Sectors for School-Based Skilling:
- Primary Sector (Agriculture) : Opportunities include improving farm productivity, agronomy, and entrepreneurship in farming. Focus areas: Horticulture, gardening, dairy farming, livestock health, aquaculture, and fisheries.
- Secondary Sector (Manufacturing)
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- Opportunities exist in MSMEs and large manufacturing industries.
- MSMEs demand multi-skilled individuals and offer growth potential.
- Large industries prefer candidates with certifications equivalent to ITI.
- Focus on sectors like automobile manufacturing, with collaboration on curricula and internships.
- Tertiary Sector (Services)
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- High demand for jobs in retail, IT, and banking requiring multi-skill exposure. Employability skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and leveraging digital technologies are essential.
Sectors with Limited Opportunities: Mining is not a significant employer due to hazardous conditions and reliance on unskilled labour.
Steps to Achieve Skilling Goals:
Expanding Access to Skill Education:
- Target 20-30% of secondary schools in every district to offer skill education.
- Introduce at least two trades in each target school and scale up to 3-5 trades in larger schools.
- Establish skill hubs to centralise resources and provide access to all students.
Strengthening Infrastructure and Training:
- Upgrade facilities frequently and ensure adequate funding for consumables.
- Engage industry for infrastructure inputs and equipment.
- Recruit contractual trainers with industry experience and provide professional development for employability skills delivery.
Building Industry Partnerships:
- Collaborate with flagship and local MSME partners to ensure curriculum relevance and offer internships and job placements.
- Industries can also contribute to curriculum design, guest lectures, and hands-on training.
Improving Assessments:
- Shift focus to testing practical skills over theoretical knowledge.
- Involve school boards and sector skill councils in driving assessment reforms.
Changing Perceptions of Skill Education:
- Rebrand skill education to make it aspirational, using terms like “applied learning” or “professional learning.”
- Train teachers and school leaders to effectively counsel students and parents on the value of skill education.
