Ministry of Education in discussion with state governments to identify vocational education requirements

Mr Vipin Kumar, Additional Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, spoke at the 12th edition of IDEATE 2023, a Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation initiative in collaboration with FICCI and UNICEF as knowledge partners, emphasizing the importance of providing quality education to girls in India, focusing on vocational education as a means to ensure employability and relevance to the demands of the industry.

Mr Kumar emphasized that vocational education is a critical component of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and that the NEP emphasizes the necessity of giving 21st-century skills to girls in order for them to engage in the economy. “To that end, the Ministry of Education is working with state governments to identify requirements for specific geographical areas and industries,” he explained.

In reference to the government’s ambitious goal for girls’ education, he stated that “at least 50% of girls who are passing out from the 12th standard by 2025-26 should be experts in one skill relevant to the job market.” He urged industry assistance in arranging internships in this respect. Mr Panda emphasized the significance of bridging the gender gap in education, health, and job opportunities in order to achieve economic growth and inclusion. Young women entering the labor field assist society as a whole. According to him, if teenage females finish their education, postpone early marriage, and avoid early birth, they might contribute roughly $110 billion to India’s GDP during their lifetimes. Mr Panda advocated for a more holistic approach, concentrating on empowerment by viewing women as change makers rather than merely recipients of health and development initiatives.

Ms Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Representative, delivered the keynote lecture, emphasizing the need of a multi-sectoral approach to empowering young women and girls. “Getting to the root causes and barriers that are holding girls back in the digital age requires addressing them from all angles.” It is not only about narrowing the gender gap, but also about raising a new generation of innovators, inventors, and leaders who will form a more inclusive and equitable society. We need to enable early access to technology, digital, and life skills training by taking a multi-sectoral strategy and collaborating with companies. “We must redouble our efforts to combat harmful gender stereotypes both within and outside of families, including online abuse,” she added. “UNICEF collaborates with the government and other partners to provide adolescent girls and boys with appropriate equipment.”

Ministry of Education

She alluded to gender disparity in many segments, which inhibits the majority of girls from having a level playing field, and emphasized the critical need to build an atmosphere that supports and empowers girls, allowing them to realize their full potential. In this context, Ashish Dhawan identified numerous areas that require attention, including resolving skill gaps, developing strong networks, encouraging role models, and questioning societal norms, among others.

Ms Jyoti Vij, FICCI’s Additional Director General, offered the event’s closing comments.

A panel discussion titled ‘Empowering Girls During the Foundational Years’ was also chaired by Namita Bhandare, Independent Journalist & Writer. Panelists included Osama Manzar, Founder & Director, DEF (Digital Empowerment Foundation); Maharshi Vaishnav, CEO, Educate Girls; Praveen Kumar Karn, Head – Group CSR, Spark Minda Group; Shipra Jha, Gender Specialist, UNICEF; and Anita Kujur, Student of Medicine.

Ideate 2023’s goals included addressing policies and frameworks for adolescent girl empowerment, assessing the impact of diverse culture and practices on foundation years, understanding the role of influencers in creating a progressive adolescent ecosystem, and exploring mentoring at all stages.