Hyderabad: Technical know-how and Skill Set of a person play a definite role in deciding the individual’s career option, in today’s competitive world.
Today, the major challenge before the central and state governments is preparing the young adults of today to face the current and future requirements thereby creating a fine human resource ecosystem in the fast-growing economy.
Experts opine that around 90 percent of the educated youth today, are lacking the employment-related skill set, highly needed for the job sector of today and in future.
To eradicate this grave scenario, the governments are said to be proposing around Rs.20,000 crores of rupees towards inculcating special courses as part of the curriculum, to improve upon the skill sets of the youth, starting from their high school itself.
In fact, it may be noted that way back in 2015 itself, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opined and stated that the policy of ‘Naipunya Bharat’ which is being brought in by the Central Government can only be the key factor in fighting against the poverty of the nation.
In the process, in around the year 2009, it was stipulated that around 40 crore resources are to be readied with employable skills by the end of the year 2020.
By the year 2016, the prestigious exercise took a proper shape and by the end of the year 2019, around 52 lakh citizens of India have up-skilled themselves and out of them, around 12.60 lakhs (24%) have got placed, as per the statement released by the Government in Rajyasabha.
The Central Government is proposing on making the state governments as partners in the overall development of the national human resources by integrating all the policies across the departments and states.
The national development with specific regard to the educational sector in India shall also be on par with that of the China strategies, provided the above-proposed program takes place at the right time and place.
India’s neighbour, the Republic of China, implemented the policy of ‘9-year Integrated Education’, in which, the last 3 years of the education is focused on specific Skill Development studies.
Accordingly, the children pass out of their secondary education, as skilled workers apart from acquiring academic qualifications.
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This helps the country develop its economic status, right from the induction of the resources into the industry/market/ workplace.
As per an international survey, South Korea, Germany and the UK are successfully enabling its resources into skilled and employable personnel to the effect of 96%, 75% and 68% respectively. And unfortunately, in India, we are successful only to a meagre extent of about 5%.
As per a survey conducted by the UNICEF, it is estimated that by the end of the year 2030, the workforce of the Indian population will reach over and above 96 crores.
It further states that of this figure, around 31 crores is estimated to be academically qualified while skilled and employable personnel are expected to be just about half of it (ie., around 15 crores).
India ranks at 53rd position out of a list of 63 countries with skilled and professional talent.
This is something that should be of great concern to us and our future generations alike. Another survey indicates that around 70% of the Indian population is still unaware of the various skill development programs being proposed and conducted by the governments.
It is utmost necessary and needs of the hour that general awareness is spread out at a fast and vast rate on the various avenues that can help each and every citizen who intends on leading a respectable financially independent life.
It is also necessary that industries and employment markets are integrated with such programs, so that a career path is built for professionals and skilled workers, right from the student age itself.
As the United Nations stated long ago, it is pertinent that the youth are exposed to various skill development and professional courses, so as to help them lead an independent and respectable life.
Unfortunately, for us Indians, this seems to be a far-fetched dream, since, the connection between what we study and on what we work at a later stage is nowhere seen these days.
The academic qualification that our children acquire is no longer proven to be useful when it comes to them acquiring employment, thanks to their non-exposure to the actual skills required for completing the job.
This is creating a huge skill-requirement gap between the industrialists/employers and the unemployed youth, which is only getting wider by the day!! As per a data, while around 70% of the employers are scouting for skilled/professional workers, around 58% academically certified youth and around 62% of degree holders are fighting with the unemployment crisis.
The unemployment crisis is spreading like a wildfire because of which youth who have completed their Masters and P.hD academically, are being forced to work for a meagre salary and position meant for those who have completed their Inter and higher secondary education levels.
As Ms Ginni Rometty, the head of an international data management company, states, “It is important that an employee is professionally skilled rather than academically qualified”.
In today’s competitive world that is living on digital transmission of knowledge and information, skills in the fields like ‘Artificial Intelligence’, ‘Data Analytics’, ‘Block Chain’, ‘Robotic Automation’, ‘Cyber Security’ etc, play a vital role in helping a person acquire good jobs.
It is an immediate requirement that the syllabus of the higher secondary schools are to be revisited and revamped to include the above-said skills and their introduction, to prepare the children to face the competitive world of tomorrow, with great confidence.
Only then, when the governments take an immediate and voluntary involvement in designing the youth for a shinier tomorrow, just like other nations such as Germany, Norway, Finland and others, can the youth of India, as highly skilled resources challenge the rest of the world with élan!!
