Opinion
Dr Madhav Deo Saraswat on NEP: Vocational Training Makes Schools Progressive
Activities are not and should not be mere pass time. They can be strategically crafted to provide the best of both the worlds to our prodigy i.e. development of vocational skills and purposeful pass time.
The National Education Policy of 2020 has left many wondering about the success of its implementation. Like any other policy, it has categorically reflected on the objectives that our nation seeks to achieve on the basis of the challenges that we have been facing until now. The task hereafter is to identify the pre-requisites and establish the path that would realize what has been drafted in black and white.
The population of a country can be an asset or a liability, depending upon how it is utilised. As a nation when we talk about our huge population, there is a negative connotation to it. In Economics, the People of a country are referred to as the Human Resource, which indeed is one of the most or rather the most important resource for any nation. If we look around us, we will find practical examples from amongst our neighbouring countries that have successfully proven that a large population can also be a boon and not necessarily a bane. From this stems that conclusion and the hope that a humongous population can be successfully converted into one that contributes to nation-building and education is an inevitable requisite for the same. China and Japan are classic examples of how populated countries can convert their people into a resource, who then, in turn, contribute towards the growth and overall betterment of the society/country at large.
India tops the chart of countries with the highest levels of educated unemployment, which is a matter of concern, as it has serious consequences. If we wish to witness a present that ensures empowerment for the masses and a future that promises sustenance for the nation, we are good to go. Among all recommendations suggested in the NEP 2020, Vocational Training seems to be one that has immense potential. I believe we must wholeheartedly welcome the suggestion of including vocational training right at the school level. Integration of vocational training at the school level is certainly a step forward towards plugging a void in the educational landscape of the country. Education, healthcare & skill development are three pillars on which the success of a country greatly depends.
Providing vocational training in schools will not only make a person more employable in the long run but would provide a window for students to identify and pursue their passion. Once a person identifies his/her passion, it becomes simpler and meaningful to engage in economic activity to be able to earn a livelihood and support the family and thereby, the country. Schools must design their activity program keeping this factor in mind. Activities are not and should not be mere pass time. They can be strategically crafted to provide the best of both the worlds to our prodigy i.e. development of vocational skills and purposeful pass time.
As a progressive school, we had identified the significance of skill-building and had introduced skill-based activities, dating back to many decades. Painting, Metal-work, Wood-work, Tie & dye, Batik, Culinary art, Photography, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence are some of the activities in the long list of co-curricular pursuits we have been offering to our children. Thus, our school has not just stood the test of time in grooming children to unleash their potential, it has also enabled them to be contributory citizens and render their share in nation-building. The often said phrase of children being the future of the nation has materialized within the ambits of the Fort for more than a century now. Apart from focusing on excelling in academic endeavours and educating of livelihood, The Scindia School always strives to educate for life. It is this notion which cements our faith in aspects like Vocational Training, contributing to the physical, mental, and creative health of the child. In the words of T. Harv Eker, “The purpose of our lives is to add value to the people of this generation and those that follow.”
About the author:
Dr Madhav Deo Saraswat, Principal, The Scindia School, has more than 31 years of experience in teaching, academic administration, team building and community development programmes. He served a long stint as a teacher at The Doon School, Dehradun (1989-2005), where he was profoundly engaged with the Round Square activities right from 1990. While at Doon, he led many Service Projects wherein he raised funds, built new infrastructure and instilled ideas of a more inclusive and humane culture in students and adults alike. He is an exponent of the ideology of ‘Leadership through Service.’