India: Vocational training lost importance has led to the widening gap between supply and demand for skilled manpower across various industries

Although the field of education has made progress in the past ten years, this less regulated area of the education sector – vocational training— seems to have lost its importance. This has led to the widening gap between the supply and demand for skilled manpower across various industries. This shortage of skills has translated directly into unemployment among an increasing number of graduates who pass out every year and are forced to be re-trained in order to become marketable.

According to a recent study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), there will be a deficit of 40 million working professionals by the year 2020 and about 41% of the employers are faced with the difficulty of filling positions because of the dearth of suitable talent and skill in their industry.

The lack of a formal degree and the belief that the vocational track is only suitable for people from a lesser financial background has resulted in the declining popularity of this area. While students from a middle-class background are lured into academic pursuits and take up conventional degrees, pursuing a vocational education has remained a less-explored arena.

Vocational education is primarily non-academic in nature and offers practical training and skills needed to pursue an occupation straightaway. It provides students with courses directly aligned to land a job in a chosen profession or a skilled trade. The end result of vocational education is to enable an individual to attain self-employment…

via The Hindu : FEATURES / OPPORTUNITIES : Significance of vocational education.