Certification Courses Are Still A Stigma In India: Manish Sisodia

Why are we still ashamed of certification courses and bear with us the stigma of not being a graduate in India?

The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia, while speaking at an event held in New Delhi on Thursday (15 June), asked this question and said it’s high time we change the perception of the country and build confident employees.

Sisodia stated that the ITIs, skill development centres courses are still looked down upon in our system and are considered as ‘incomplete education’.

He mentioned certification or diploma still remain a guilt in the country and the person pursuing the same is bagged with a stigma.

“It’s high time that we change the perception of the country and build confident employees. If we go abroad, people take pride in doing certification courses as it equips then with the relevant skills. In Indian the only focus is on getting admissions and later comes building of the expertise.”

The minister mentions how the country has been doing a lot of formality in the name of skill development and employability in the last 2 years and its time some serious efforts are being made in this regard.

“When I tried to comprehend what the government could do, I got to hear only two things. I was told every time those things are happening and on ground work is already being done or else there was a complete negation of an idea, citing the reasons like population,” said the minister.

Amongst this whole scenario, he pitched how the government needs to ensure employability with a 360 degree approach.

“In the last 2 years, Delhi government has started various skill centres, with a special mention of the world class skill centre that has been opened in the capital”.

The minister focussed on the development of the overall skills of the workforce and not entirely dependent on hardcore content.

“In these skill centres, we take high school students and work with them for six months. Earlier the courses were for three months based on hardcore content, which we recommended to prolong for six. The additional 3 months would be dedicated to working towards personality development and building on the communication skills. The employer of the country is more interested in these additional three months,” added the minister.

Citing the example of LED bulbs assembly, as one of the part of skill development training, the minister urged the communities and corporates to make the government aware of the new innovative employment sources in the country, where the workforce can be skilled to make them employable.

“I completely understand the call of the employers when they say, ‘What we need and not what is being taught’ and we are trying to focus on bridging this disconnectivity on high priority”, said Sisodia.

Naina Sood

BW Reporters Naina Sood is a Economics graduate and has done her post graduation in International economics and Trade. She has deep interests in Indian economy and reforms