Minutes of the DAB Vocational Education Department The Departmental Advisory Board meeting of the Vocational Department was held on 22 nd March 2018 at NIOS. The following members attended the meeting: 1. Dr. Ashminder Singh Bahal, Director, VED - Chairperson 2. Prof Bharat B Dhar, NABET, Quality Council of India 3. Sh Pankaj Pandey, Mass Communication Expert 4. Dr Rishi Raj Singh, NIESBUD 5. Ms Garima Goel, India Didacdics 6. Dr Amarnath Amar, Prasar Bharti 7. Dr Aapga Singh, COO, Rotary, India Literacy Mission 8. Dr. Manju Gupta, Joint Director, CBC 9. Ms. Mamta Gupta, Assistant Director, Evaluation 10. Mr. B.K. Rai, Assistant Director, Academic 11. Dr. Praveen Chauhan, Academic Officer (Home Science) 12. Dr. Neelima Pant, Academic Officer (Agriculture) 13. Ms. Radhika. B, Academic Officer (ICT) 14. Mr. Pawan Kumar Chauhan, Senior Executive Officer (VE) 15. Ms. Anitha Nair, Deputy Director, VED Member Convenor The following members could not attend the meeting: 1. Ms Asllesha Thakur, Training Expert 2. Mr Ajay Kumar, DDG,NSDA 3. Dr Kanhaiya Chaudhary, IARI 4. Sh Devendra Panwar, Extension Officer, Bhartiya Shiksha Mandal The meeting started with welcome note by Director, VED, followed by self introductions. Dr. Bahal briefly highlighted the achievements of NIOS and the key areas of vocational courses. He informed the DAB members that DAB is a high level
committee whose main responsibility is to give advice and suggestions for the various vocational programmes, being run by the NIOS. The validity of the present constituted DAB committee is for 3 years. Deputy Director then presented the agenda of the meeting. 1. To consider and approve 25% fee concession for Handloom Weavers and their children Academic Officer (Home Science) briefed about the MoU between Ministry of Textiles, GOI and NIOS for Handloom Weavers. She also presented in detail the fee concession being given to the Handloom Weavers and their children. Ministry of Textiles, GOI has agreed to waive off 75% of course fee for SC/ST, BPL and Women. It was proposed that NIOS may give concession for the rest 25% of course fee as per NIOS norms to Handloom Weavers and their Children belonging to SC/ST, BPL and Women. The proposal was approved by the DAB members. 2. To consider and approve retaining the name of Data Entry Operations Academic Officer (ICT) informed that the popular subject Data Entry Operations at secondary level was taken up for revision. It was proposed that to retain the subject name as Data Entry Operations itself and to include Open Source Software content in the material instead of MS-Office. After discussions, the DAB approved the proposal. 3. To consider offering of courses on Certificate in Dairy Worker as a joint certification with Agriculture Sector Skill Council (ASCI) Academic Officer (Agriculture) briefed about the offering of Certificate course in Dairy Worker with joint certification with ASCI. Members recommended to rename the course as Dairy Operator and approved the proposal. 4. Offering of Course for the Handicraft Artisans and their children for learners of SC community in collaboration with Ministry of Textiles (MOT), GOI Academic Officer (Home Science) briefed about the course for Handicraft Artisans. She also informed in detail about the proposed scheme of studies wherein the Secondary school certification would be given to the learners with two vocational subjects, one language and two academic subjects. She further added that the meeting with experts from the field was conducted to review the present scheme of study and the course content and submitted the following points for suggestions: The Committee felt that the Handicraft Artisans have very low literacy rates and majority of them were non literate, 3 rd or 5 th pass and conducting secondary
certification examination may not prove to be effective. Since majority lack basic education, their ability to grasp theory and reduce it to writing would be low and this would result in large number of drop-outs and discourage the learners from giving exams. The learners may find it difficult to cope up with the workload required for secondary level. In addition, the learners have obtained these skills traditionally from their families. A large number would not be able to clear the 10 th examination as their focus till now has been on learning the craft and not on education. The problem could be tackled in a two fold manner. For the lower proportion of learners who have 8 th standard ability, could follow the current mechanism and obtain 10 th class certification. However, for the majority learners the members suggested that the learners may be offered Trade Certificate in Handicraft. The first certificate can be in the Embroidery area. The package course will have modules on Embroidery, Design Development and Basic English. It was also opined that the modules on Design Development and Basic English will be non examinable and may incorporate practical /projects. The option for secondary certification could also be kept open for the learners having the pre requisites. These learners will have the embroidery module as compulsory and may opt for any other four academic /vocational subjects with one compulsory language. Knowledge of Basic English will be helpful to these learners as when they work in the industry, the product specifications are in English. Therefore a module on Basic English could be developed. The DAB members approved the proposal with two pronged approach being carried out of both 10 th class certification for those who match the requisite ability and Trade related certificate for others. 5. Development of Diploma course in Yoga Senior Executive Officer (VE) highlighted about the development of Diploma in Yoga course of one year duration. After deliberations, the members approved the proposal. 6. Development of Diploma Course in Yoga and Naturopathy Senior Executive Officer (VE) briefed about the development of Diploma in Yoga and Naturopathy course. It was proposed that the course will be offered for two and half years. Members suggested to reduce the course duration to two years. During discussions, it was highlighted that the course duration cannot be reduced, keeping in
view the quality of training desired and recommendations of the Ayush Ministry. It was suggested that alternate therapies be also included in the course. The DAB members approved the proposal and recommended considering the possibility of splitting these courses into a modular format with individual certifications. First certification could be of 12 months duration and then Diploma of 30 months duration. 7. Recognition of Prior Learning for Handloom Weavers Academic Officer (Home Science) informed the members about the proposal to introduce RPL in the Handloom Weavers course. As many weavers opting for this course may have prior knowledge in the handloom and allied activities, it was proposed that provision for acceptance of RPL will give them the advantage to undergo reduced training of 30 hours. The SOP for the same was also discussed. The DAB members approved the proposal. 8. MOOCs and SOP Academic Officer (Agriculture) briefed about SWAYAM and the list of proposed vocational courses that would be offered on the SWAYAM platform. She also explained the salient features for Development of MOOCs for Vocational Courses. DAB appreciated the proposal of online course development and approved the SOP. 9. Workshop on Promoting Vocational Courses at Guwahati Deputy Director (VE) informed to promote, publicize and understand the reasons for low enrolment in the North East and less number of study centres there. A state level workshop involving the stakeholders and policy makers was proposed to be held within the next three months. Members suggested promoting the vocational courses in the region by spreading awareness through melas, mass media book fairs, regional workshops, exhibitions as well as tie up with the industry for placement. The target group for such workshop needed to be clearly identified. 10. Equivalency of Para Medical courses in States for Government Jobs Deputy Director (VE) briefed about the equivalency of two Para Medical courses namely Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) and Diploma in Medical Imaging Technology (DMIT) in collaboration with Indian Medical Association (IMA) in state government jobs. Members suggested that a letter be written by the Honourable Minister of HRD to the concerned states for considering the certificate of NIOS for Para Medical courses for Government jobs.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks. Sd/- (Anitha Nair) Member Convenor sd/- (Dr. Ashminder Singh Bahal) Chairperson