Vocational education prepare the students for a specific trade, it directly develops expertise in techniques related to technology, skill and scientific technique to span all aspects of the trade

The scheme covers Government schools. Government aided schools, in those States/UTs where Government Schools have already been covered under the Scheme, may also be considered for financial assistance as per the norms of the scheme.

The scheme has a provision for providing exposure to vocational education to students of Classes IX to XII with an aim to provide opportunities to the students to orient themselves with the skills required for the various occupations in a sector and to equip them to make informed choices while selecting their subjects in higher classes. 

Under Vocational Education component of ‘Samagra Shiksha’, NSQF compliant vocational courses are taught to the students from class 9th to 12th. At the secondary level i.e. Class IX and X, vocational modules are offered to the students as an additional subject. At Sr. Secondary level, i.e. Class XI and XII, vocational courses are offered as a compulsory (elective) subject. Vocational Courses are selected on the basis of notional hours, age & educational qualification prescribed and suitability for school students. Under the scheme, Vocational Courses based on the Job roles which have been approved by National Skill Qualification Committee (NSQC) are offered in the schools.

Employability Skills module has been made a mandatory part of the vocational Courses. It consists of Communication Skills, Self-Management Skills, Information and Communication Technology Skills, Entrepreneurship Skills and Green Skills.

Under the program, there is a provision for arranging hands on training, field visits, on the job training for students in industrial set up and guest lectures from industry. Arrangements are also being made for providing apprenticeship training to the students passing out with vocational subjects. 

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has been requested to arrange for apprenticeship of the students passing out with vocational subject.

The State/UT Governments have been advised that Vocational courses are to be treated at par with other academic subjects and accorded a similar status in the scheme of subjects.

The State/UT Boards conduct external competency based assessment of skills of the students in collaboration with the concerned Sector Skill Council wherein the practical assessment of vocational subject is being carried out by Sector Skill Council. The SSCs depute certified assessors to the states to carry out the assessment. A joint certificate by the school board and the concerned Sector Skill Council is issued to the successful candidates.

Guidelines

Service Level Agreements with Sector Skill Councils (2019)

Service Level Agreements with Sector Skill Councils (2024)