Revamping skill development in ITIs on the cards

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A total revamp of the skill development of youth through the government and private ITIs is on the cards with focus on ensuring placement in tune with the demands of employers. As part of the ‘Performance monitoring and evaluation system for government departments’ a Results Framework Document(RFD) will be made for the ITIs. The Department of Industrial Training will entrust an agency to study the position of the skill training and evaluate the impact of the programmes undertaken. Industrial Training director K Biju said that the outcome of the training from the institutes in Kerala is yet to be known. Around 35 new ITIs were started last year and the needs of the market should be analysed to find out which trade is in great demand."Though ITIs are being upgraded occasionally and new courses introduced, the placements are being held through jobfests. A study will be conducted among the ITIs and major industries,’’ Biju said.The study will cover enrolment of trainees, placement ratio, potential for placement for various trades, skill upgradation, quality and quantity of infrastructure, relevance of the courses and skill training. It is noticed that some of the ITIs are not having sufficient infrastructure and there was  need to weed out some of the existing trades.A vision document for the next five years could be prepared after the study. It can help in undertaking a revamp of the institutes in Kerala and implement projects aimed at ensuring placements for the graduates. The training is being imparted as per the Craftsmen Training Scheme and other schemes of the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT). If needed, new courses under State Council of Vocational Training (SCVT) could be started, he said.The study is expected to be completed in four months. The report will have details on placements obtained through skill training, courses offered at present and new trades to be introduced in tune with the growing demand for workforce in the  national and international industrial sector.It will also have the details whether seats are utilised properly, reasons for dropouts, performance of faculty and opportunities given for differently abled persons.