Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Minister of Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, jointly unveiled the World Bank’s report, Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People in Six States, at an event in New Delhi. The report, focusing on Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan, aims to bridge the gap between skill education and market demands, aligning with the Government of India’s ambitious vision for a high-income economy by 2047.
The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including Secretary of School Education and Literacy, Sanjay Kumar; Secretary of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Atul Kumar Tiwari; World Bank’s Country Director for India, Auguste Tano Kouame; and Lead Education Specialist, Shabnam Sinha, alongside ministry officials and school principals.
Key Highlights:
Focus on Skills and Employment
Dharmendra Pradhan commended the World Bank for its detailed analysis and urged the team to adopt a pan-India framework to enhance skilling and employment policies. ‘The definition of jobs and employment must broaden to include diverse economic opportunities. With technological disruptions reshaping the job landscape, continuous upskilling and reskilling are essential to future-proof our workforce,’ he stated.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the need for region-specific skill development through a hub-and-spoke model. He emphasized integrating informal education with formal academic frameworks to align with India’s dynamic employment landscape.
Role of NEP 2020 and NCF 2023
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023 have laid the groundwork for embedding skill education in schools. By 2030, all secondary schools aim to offer skill education, with 50% of students accessing such programs by 2025. Shri Sanjay Kumar reiterated the importance of collaboration between ministries to develop school-based systems that foster skill education, inspired by the NEP’s vision.
Insights from the Report
The report serves as a comprehensive diagnostic of the employment landscape in the STARS states. It identifies priority sectors and roles with high employment potential, focusing on tailoring skill offerings to district-specific industry demands. The World Bank’s STARS program supports this initiative by enabling reforms that strengthen the vocational education sector.
A Roadmap for the Future
The Jobs at Your Doorstep report underscores the necessity of converging education and job strategies to realize India’s employment potential. The findings advocate for a bottom-up approach, emphasizing skill-based education from grades 9-12 to prepare students for diverse career pathways.
