VHSE to be incorporated with plus-two curriculum

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A revolutionary remodelling being worked out by the Education Department could well lead to the end of vocational education sector in the state. The Department is considering the idea of incorporating vocational education into the plus-two course thereby nullifying the significance of Vocational Higher Secondary schools. If the plan gets on track, no admissions would be made to the 375 VHSE schools from 2013 onwards.While Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb swears that no serious discussions have been held in this regard and that it is only a suggestion that has come up, indications are that the Department has gone ahead and even constituted committees to study the possibilities of such restructuring. It is upon the realisation that the vocational courses are not in tune with thetimes that the review has been undertaken.The idea is to cut down the 42 courses under the VHSE into four main heads and incorporate the courses in the  plus-two curriculum. The separate heads have been tentatively suggested as retail marketing, construction, tourism and health.A committee has been formed to review the present subject combinations in VHSE courses and another to study the prospects of a merger with plus-two. While the Centre is working on a National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework (NVEQF) which also recommends incorporation of vocational courses into the general education curriculum, it has not hinted at the closure of the sector at any point.A meeting held in December last chaired by the education secretary had discussed in detail the modalities of the restructure. However, the success rate of such a remodeling, when the plus-two courses are already so jam packed leaving no space or time for additional academic prospects, is considerably low, sources say.“We thought if vocational courses are incorporated into plus-two, it could help skill development in a huge student population. But it is just a thought that has been aired, no serious discussions have happened and neither has anything been decided on,” Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb said. He said that a review even if undertaken would take a couple of years to shape itself into a reality.When contacted VHSE director M Abdul Rahiman also said that there was no move to weaken the vocational education sector. The government, toeing the Centre’s line, is giving vocational education added attention, he said.