NSIM

Standard X “FAIL” students can now enroll to Polytechnics Courses.The state education department has begun short-term certificate courses in skill-development, especially for those who did not clear the exam.

Pune : Students who failed in the secondary school certificate (SSC, Standard X) exam need not fret. The state education department has begun short-term certificate courses in skill-development, especially for those who did not clear the exam. The courses would be imparted through 107 polytechnic institutes in the state.

Around 25,000 students can take advantage of this 6-month course which is related to 15 skilled jobs, including automotive service technician, dress designing, carpentry and plumbing among others. In Pune, 6institutes will offer the courses. Enrollments will be held from November 2 to 5. Under this programme, explains M R Chitlange, deputy secretary of the regional technical education board, no student will sit at home after SSC, and will receive skill-oriented training. “This will provide a big boost to the Union government’s skill-development programme as about an estimated 25,000 students across the state will be training.”

Two nodal agencies -National Youth Co-operative and Yashashvi -will implement this, and have signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect with the polytechnic institutes. The nodal agency’s coordinators are compiling a list of candidates eligible for the courses this year, from state government data. Chitlange adds, “The two agencies will also appoint their coordinators for the enrollment of students in the announced time frame, while the government will appoint a coordinator to assist the polytechnic institutes with admissions.”

Beginning this year, no SSC mark sheet carried the word `fail’ on it. Instead, those who did not clear the exam were “promoted for skill development”, and the same was also written on their mark sheets. Such students are eligible to take admissions to these courses.
Of the 550 government and private polytechnic institutes in the state, around 105 have agreed to offer the courses to students. The courses have been designed by the National Skill Development Corporation, and Chitlange says once the six month course is completed, students will be expected to be self-employed.