PANAJI
The one-year and two-year trade certificate courses conducted by the various Industrial Training Institutes in the State will now get weightage equivalent to SSC and HSSC for eligibility to land jobs.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant made the announcement on Thursday that the one-year ITI certificate will be considered equivalent to Class 10 (SSC) in the recruitment rules and eligibility criteria for government jobs from this year itself.
From next year, the two-year ITI certificate course will similarly be deemed to be equivalent to the Class XII (HSSC) qualification. A provision to permit ITI certificate holders to directly enrol in undergraduate degree programmes will be made, Sawant said without putting a timeline for it.
Sawant said, the required modifications in curricula will be made and all relevant circulars will be issued within the current year.
The chief minister was speaking at an event held on Thursday to lay the foundation stone for the 'Centre of Excellence Project' for which the State government has roped in TATA Technologies.
Meanwhile, Sawant urged companies who have enrolled the services of apprentices under a State government initiated programme to retain them beyond the stipulated period only if they intend giving them permanent roles.
"Otherwise, let them go to find better opportunities. Don’t keep them for three to four years on the prescribed minimal stipend," Sawant said.
Education Secretary Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, meanwhile, said that under the National Education Policy, the goal is to achieve 100% placement or vertical mobility for ITI students.
"Quality education with a strong skill component should start after Class 10," Lolayekar said.
The 'Centre of Excellence Project' for which Sawant laid the foundation stone is one of many initiatives in an over Rs 500 crore plan the government and TATA Technologies will embark on plans to enhance skill-based education in the State.
TATA Technologies under its CSR initiative is contributing Rs 165 crore to upgrade five of Goa's ITI centres -- Bicholim, Cacora, Mapusa, Farmagudi and Vasco.
The plan envisages a Rs 400 crore investment by the State to improve vocational training standards with the curricula and infrastructure being designed by TATA technologies.
