Odisha takes initiative to overhaul education system, introduce vocational courses

BERHAMPUR: Odisha government has taken initiative for overhauling the entire higher education system with introduction of job-oriented vocational courses and choice based credit system (CBS) in undergraduate classes.

The courses would be introduced from next academic session, state's Higher Education Minister, Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi said.

"The main objective is to produce skilled manpower and enhance quality of higher education to match global level", Panigrahi told a workshop on 'Quality enhancement in Higher Education of Odisha', organised yesterday by regional directorate of higher education here.

"When we talk about quality education, we need to fulfill aspirations of the students and provide job oriented, need-based and work-centered education", the minister said.

The government would start the exercise to provide such inputs for achieving skilled manpower, employability with scope for capacity building, he said.

Urging principals of colleges to undertake the task of producing skilled manpower, Panigrahi said, "I know it's a daunting task but we must do it sincerely to enhance the quality of education and fulfill the aspirations of students".

Introduction of choice-based credit system would allow the students pursue skills and courses of their choice to enhance their employability, said vice chancellor of Berhampur university D K Behera.

Change of mindset of students, timely publication of the results and motivating the teachers were some of the taks needed to be carried out while switching over to CBCS from the traditional methods.

"Though difficult tasks, the system has to be adopted to get funds from the Rastriya Uchhatara Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA)", he said.

Deputy Director, vocational education PK Tripathy said the government has decided to introduce vocational educations in Plus III level to produce skilled manpower.

University Grants Commission (UGC) had launched the vocational education in undergraduate level and the principals should submit their proposals for launching the course for which UGC would provide Rs 1.85 crore to each college.

Among others, chairman, council of higher secondary education, Odisha (CHSE) Basudev Chhatoi, educationist Mihir Kumar Das and regional director, education (Berhampur) L K Tripathy spoke.