How School To Work Concept can transform the Indian Education System?

Before we get started with this concept, have you ever heard of this before?

This is popularly known as vocational education which is not very popular in India. However, it can do wonders if it gets the recognition it deserves.

School to Work concept or Vocational Education means training in skills that one needs to accomplish a job. There are some great examples of developed and developing countries that are successful in promoting vocational training and bringing out the best in students.

School to Work Concept has been extremely successful in developed countries. However, there are a few successful examples of developing countries as well.

The National Qualification framework in New Zealand and South Africa has developed amazing frameworks to promote vocational training. In Kora, employers offer their employees training opportunities and receive government subsidies for the training provided. Singapore’s SPED (Special Education) offers special training pathways and work options for differently-abled students. It helps graduates from SPED schools to get into good jobs after their graduation. Zambia is also a great example as it managed to build an effective collaboration between schools, MSMEs, and large corporations.

Benefits of School to Work Concept

Let’s take a look at the benefits of School To Work Concept:

• Learning By Doing

School to Work concept or Vocational training focuses more on practical learning than theoretical learning. Students who are in vocational courses spend more time practicing tangible skills that they will need in their workplace. The focus lies on acquiring the knowledge and skillset that they will need in their work profile. This ensures that by the time students graduate, they can apply for full-time jobs instead of opting for internships or low-level jobs for the experience.

• Excellent Learning experience

Students who opt for vocational courses start building a career right from the beginning. They passionately pursue their passion with full dedication and determination. When students start pursuing what they love to do, they are more productive and efficient.

• Flexible Programs

Vocational courses usually aren't time-bound and focus more on self-paced learning. Options like online learning or studying anytime of the day make it an efficient alternative for those who want to pursue a new skill along with their full-time job.

• Job Hunt becomes easier

When students graduate with a specific skill set, it is easier for them to find jobs in the market. The employer knows that the candidate has gone through special training to excel in a specific skill set and can start working with minimal training. On the other hand, students don't have to worry about their job applications not getting accepted by various companies. This gives them an upper hand over students who pass out from traditional academic schools.

Why India lacks in School to Work Concept?

The school-to-work concept has not been very successful in India. There are a few reasons why it is still not valued in our country.

One of the major reasons is the lack of a strong system that can establish vocational training in India. It is always considered the backup option for students who fail in the traditional education system. The Indian society and even the job sector don't value vocational courses as much as they value degrees and board-affiliated mark sheets.

The youth unemployment rate in India is 2 to 5 times higher than in other developed countries. This is because there is a huge gap between the youth and the adult in the country. Participation of private companies is crucial for a smooth school-to-work transition which is not seen in India. There is barely any participation of private companies in the school-to-employment transition. In countries like UK and Germany, the involvement of industries and the private sector is very active and the results are phenomenal.

India still falls behind when it comes to practical and new-age learning. There are only a few schools across the country that are slowly integrating holistic learning into the curriculum to make it fun and exciting. All these above examples of different countries are a lesson to be learned. School to Work concept or vocational training is not something to look down at. It is valuable and it offers a career path to children at the right age. They won't be confused about what they want to do in the future if they start working on it right from school.