Kerala's 'vocational training' initiative faces setback due to staff shortage in schools
Thiruvananthapuram: Despite the introduction of new textbooks for vocational education under the revised curriculum, the shortage of qualified teachers has been a major setback. The textbooks for vocational education were introduced this academic year for fifth, seventh, and ninth-grade students to cultivate a work-oriented mindset among students. However, only experienced teachers are qualified to teach the content, especially the complex syllabus for class nine.
While the textbooks for classes five and seven are career-oriented, the syllabus for class nine requires specialized expertise. Teachers are left perplexed about how to manage these classes, and so far, the Department of General Education has not responded to the crisis.
A decision has been made to allocate 11 skill areas to each school for the 9th grade. These skill areas are divided into three groups. The recommendation is for each school to select one skill area from each group. If a school has at least 30 students, it can choose one skill area; if there are 60 students, two skill areas can be selected, and if there are more, three skill areas can be chosen.
Current challenges
Classes five to eight are allotted three periods per week for vocational studies, while class nine is given two periods. However, many schools are unable to effectively utilize these periods as instructed by the curriculum. Even when vocational instructors are available, they often lack the expertise to teach the newly introduced subjects, and in many schools, such instructors are entirely absent.
Complex syllabus
Class nine has 11 textbooks covering the following topics:
Group 1:
- Agriculture – Knowledge of crop production
- Food Industry – The world of culinary arts
- Green Technology – Waste management through green technology
Group 2:
- Media and Entertainment – Camera operations and editing
- Tourism – Tourism and hospitality
- Finance – Financial literacy
Group 3:
- Housing – Basic concepts of construction
- Plumbing – Pipes and fittings
- Electrical and Electronics – Basic electrical and electronic concepts
- Printing and stationery
To address the shortage of skilled instructors, several solutions have been proposed. One suggestion is to utilize the services of 1,100 vocational teachers from Vocational Higher Secondary Education (VHSE) who are currently unemployed. Another option is to engage local experts to teach specific skills relevant to the curriculum. Additionally, hiring experienced teachers with the necessary expertise in vocational subjects is recommended to ensure the effective implementation of the program.