The need of education system in modern times is not only to develop scientific temper among students but also make them accustomed with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and ipart vocational skills through well-designed courses, felt principals, teachers and educationists during a Seminar on ‘Strengthening of Vocational Education and Promotion of ICT system in School and Adult Education’ at DPS, Ranchi on Wednesday.
Citing the idea of implementing vocational courses and use of ICT the Chairman of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), CB Sharma said, “With time it has become mandatory for all schools to bring some change in the school education system. Apart from imparting regular academic courses it has also become compulsory for all the school authorities to introduce certain vocational courses and Information and communication technology (ICT) in the teaching to enhance the entire teaching pattern.”
“Government of India is planning to come out with a new education policy by the end of this year. Two important areas that the education policy would like to focus on are Vocational courses and introduction of Information and communication technology. Vocational courses will help the child to enhance his/her skills whereas information and communication skills can upgrade the entire education system,” said Principal of DPS Ranchi, Ram Singh.
The prime objective of the seminar was to interact and collect feedback as well as suggestions for framing a new well defined education policy. This policy aims at revamping and redefining the existing education policy. In this regard 33 major areas have been identified out of which 20 are for school level education and 13 for higher education.
Addressing the people in the seminar Sharma said, “In India, the general education and vocational education have been operating in two diverse areas with very little interaction between the two. This often leads to vacillation among students who are opting for vocational courses as there is a general anxiety that one cannot pursue higher degrees or qualification in vocational subjects”.
Expressing her views on the use of ICT in school education system Mrigakshi Alok, a school teacher added “Today we cannot ignore the importance of information and communication technology. ICT can potentially make significant difference in improving the quality of education. The national policy of ICT in school education visualizes and provide for holistic development of ICT in the school system. Mission Mode Project (MMP) on school education would enable comprehensive technology enablement which will enhance ICT skills among teachers, students and non teaching staffs as well.”
While concluding and discussing on the proposed points of new education policy Sharma further added, “People must accept the introduction of vocational courses in the school curriculum, skilled teachers are required to teach the vocational subjects and must be appointed by the school administration, counselling of parents must be the top priority as parents are not very much familiar with the system of vocational pattern and the stigma regarding the vocational education must be clarified and most important factor in all this is setting up proper labs and workshop for imparting various vocational subjects as setting up labs requires huge amount of investment.”
Approximately 70 Principals and teachers from various schools were present in the seminar.