Fee waiver for girls in ITIs; drone training planned
PANAJI
Seeking to align education with industry needs and strengthen the State’s skill ecosystem, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday announced a series of proposals in the State Budget 2026–27, including a State-wide skill gap analysis, a new scheme offering full tuition fee waiver for girls in government ITIs, establishment of a drone pilot training centre, and setting up of new Industrial Training Institutes in Sanguem and Dharbandora.
Skill gap study
Sawant said the government will conduct a Skill Gap Analysis to assess how well the current education system aligns with industry requirements and identify areas where improvements are needed. “The future of our State lies with our students. They should not only be educated but also equipped with the right skills. Therefore, I propose to conduct a Skill Gap Analysis to identify where education aligns with industry requirements and where improvements are needed,” he said.
Fee waiver scheme
To encourage greater participation of women in technical education and the workforce, the government has proposed the “Mukhyamantri Sukanya Kaushal Vikas Protsahan Yojana.” Under the scheme, female trainees enrolling in Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will receive a 100 per cent waiver of tuition fees.
“The initiative aims to reduce dropout rates among girls, promote skill development and enhance women’s participation in Goa’s economic growth,” he said. The government estimates that around 1,000 female candidates will benefit from the scheme.
Drone pilot training
The budget also proposes the establishment of a Drone Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) Centre at the Government ITI in Cacora. While the institute has already introduced courses for drone pilots and drone technicians, the RPTO centre will enable trainees to obtain official drone flying licences, making it the first such facility in Goa.
New ITIs
In response to a long-pending demand of local residents, the government has also proposed to establish new Government ITIs in Sanguem and Dharbandora talukas to expand access to technical education in the hinterland.
To cater to emerging employment opportunities, the government plans to introduce certificate courses in specialised fields such as event production management, technical rigging and staging, light and sound engineering, and wedding hospitality in collaboration with industry partners.
Further, under the Prime Minister’s Skill and Employment Transformation Scheme, the government will upgrade five Government ITIs under a Hub and Spoke model. The Government ITI at Bicholim will function as the Hub, while ITIs at Mapusa, Pernem, Panaji and Vasco will serve as Spokes.
