The Impact of Distance Education on Global Education

Why Do We Need Skill-Based Education?

1991 is the year when the demand for jobs increased in India. Ever since India adopted the policy of Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation, the country has seen a shift in the job market. The focus has moved towards practical skills and real-time projects. In fact, the education pattern also saw a transition from formal education to internships, project work, and skills-based education or vocational education in India. 

What is Skill-Based Education? 

In India, skill-based education is popularly known as vocational education. According to AICTE, “Vocational education or Vocational Education and Training (VET), also called Career and Technical Education (CTE), prepares learners for jobs that are based in manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic and totally related to a specific trade, occupation or vocation, hence the term, in which the learner participates. It is sometimes referred to as technical education, as the learner directly develops expertise in a particular group of techniques or technology.” 

Government data suggests that more than 2.24 crore students have enrolled in its network of 16,502 skill development training centres. Since India is a young country, it is difficult to have a high employment rate, especially with conventional education. Thus, students go for vocational courses that help them to hone their skills, build a practical mindset and even think in the direction of entrepreneurship. 

What is the Importance of Skill-Based Education? 

Skill-based education is the stepping stone in a student’s career. Although, when we hear about education, we only think of conventional education or academics, the current economy has shown that skills are way beyond theoretical knowledge. students need to develop skills that will help them improve the physical, artistic, and emotional aspects of their lives as well as scholastic ones in order to thrive in this cutthroat world and that’s where vocational education comes to help. 

Skill-based education helps students grow holistically. Here are some factors that justify the importance of skill-based education: 

1. Leadership Skills

It is a well-known fact that vocational courses are opted in addition to formal education. Students opt for it to hone their soft skills, leadership skills, networking and communication skills. Hence, it can be said that vocational courses are the stepping stones for future leadership roles. 

2. Enhances Creativity 

Students opt for vocational courses to tap into their interests, explore more opportunities and inculcate more skills. It helps them to explore beyond academics. Nowadays, universities encourage their students to enrol in extracurricular activities and participate in competitions. 

3. Education with a Purpose

The conventional educational system has taught students to evaluate themselves in terms of grades and test scores. But gaining skill-based learning at a young age helps students get ready for the real world. Students inculcate definite goals as they have the chance to explore various aspects of life. Even after completing their school, the majority of students are still unsure about what job path to take. This is a result of a lack of opportunities to discover their true passions, and talents and their concentration on the rote memorisation of information. With skill development, students can learn about their abilities and limitations relatively early in life.

Government Initiatives for Skill- Based Education 

The government has taken various initiatives to promote skill-based education in the country. To satisfy the demand for skilled labour, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is running many programmes and plans through skill development training facilities under the Skill India Mission. Other initiatives are Recognition of Prior Learning, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Jan Shikshan Sansthans, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras, and many others. 

Additionally, the government also promotes vocational education at the school level for which they have launched a scheme “Vocationalisation of School Education” under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Samagra Shiksha’. 

Why should Universities add Skill-Based Education to their Curriculum? 

With the effective implementation of vocational education and training in numerous institutions, the perspective of those involved in skill development is evolving from a traditional one. By combining vocational education with general education, providing hands-on training in college workshops, field trips, and on-the-job training for students in industrial settings, and inviting industry guest speakers, efforts have been made to engage students in practical learning. A few notable mentions like Symbiosis distance learning, NMIMS distance MBA programmes are known to organise frequent visits from industry experts. 

Takeaway 

With digital and online learning, it is predicted that vocational courses will be the future of the global education system. Any country's jobs market and economy are strengthened by skilful & resourceful manpower. India, a country in the developing world, has made great strides in improving and implementing vocational education. As such, the incorporation of imperative soft & hard skills in the academic curriculum will instil competitiveness among students and bring them abreast the global competition. Thus, giving them an impregnable edge in the job market.