Skills training to make govt college students job-ready

 The Department of Collegiate Education (DCE) will soon launch a skills training programme in government degree colleges in an effort to make students job-ready.

The programme is likely begin in February on a pilot basis in as many as 60 government degree colleges in the State, 10 of which will be in Bengaluru. The course is being conducted under the aegis of the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) and a total of 13 courses in various sectors such as retail, information technology, beauty and wellness, will be taught. A number of ‘sector specialists’ from the NSDC will teach the course within a semester over a stipulated number of hours as prescribed by the DCE.

“Students who enrol for the course will have to shell out only a minimum amount of around Rs 500. The rest of the cost will be borne by the State government,” said an official privy to the plan.

At the end of the course, there will be an assessment and this will be followed by certification. “A job mela will also be organised after students complete the course. Students may also get an opportunity to do an internship,” said the official.

Venkataswamy Reddy, Principal, Government Arts College, KR Circle, one of the colleges under the pilot programme, said that this programme would be beneficial for his students as most of them come from rural backgrounds. “There are as many as 1,060 students in the college. Of this, as many as 70 per cent are from rural areas. Many have not been exposed to such programmes. Apart from this, it would also help them gain knowledge about the various industry sectors and scope for jobs in each.”

Chaithra R, a final year BCom student at the college, wants to study further after her graduation and crack the UPSC exams.

When asked how such courses would help her, she said: “I do not think such courses would be helpful for me. However, since becoming an IAS officer is my long-term goal, I could take some of the courses offered for immediate employment,” she said.