Delhi’s Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Thursday that during the previous academic session, over 4.2 lakh students had opted for vocational education in various trades in Delhi government schools, indicating that skill-based training has now become an integral part of mainstream education.
Sood was speaking at a placement drive organized by the Education Department at a school in Rohini with representatives from several companies offering employment opportunities to students.
The education minister held detailed discussions with the organisations providing opportunities to the students on the remunerations on offer for the selected candidates besides services and facilities.
He also interacted with the students on their future plans and how they are going to move forward joining these organisations and build their career, becoming part of the mainstream.
Expressing joy over the large number of students coming forward for the job fair, he said the youth are now getting opportunities based on their skills.
Sood remarked that the placement drive is a symbol of the progress of the vocational studies in the government schools, adding that the government is committed to providing the students with a respectful future full of possibilities.
He said that the initiative aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasizes the integration of academic and vocational education. And that the Delhi government’s goal is to ensure that every student is not only school-ready, but also equipped with skill-based education and prepared for future challenges.
As part of the initiative, over 30 renowned employers, such as HCL, Haldiram, Citykart, Navgurukul, Tech Mahindra, and several others have offered job opportunities to students who have completed vocational education along with Class 12 in 2024-25 or earlier. According to Sood, this is a great opportunity for the youngsters to get connected with the business world to acquaint themselves with the career options the goingson in the business arena.
He added that under CM Rekha Gupta’s leadership, the Education Department considers it a collective responsibility to provide equal opportunities and a level playing field to all, regardless of their background, religion, caste, or community, through skill development and capacity building.
He assured the government, that in the coming times, would curb the gap between the government and private schools, and will update and upgrade state schools in terms of infrastructure, opportunities and other such domains.