ESSENTIAL FOR ENHANCING EMPLOYABILITY OF YOUTH, GROWTH OF COUNTRY IN FUTURE

The formative years of a child are crucial in shaping their future. It is during these years that a strong foundation needs to be established for children to develop into better, stronger all-round individuals. School education undoubtedly plays an important role in moulding a child’s personality. The word education has been branded akin to academic excellence but its gambit includes acquiring valuable life skills and a personality development. School education devoid of any opportunities to nurture and enhance skills does not give room for children to grow into all -round individuals. In addition to excelling in academics, children need to acquire skills that will help them enhance their physical, artistic, and emotional aspects in their life and survive in today’s competitive world. Self-awareness, excellent communication skills, problem solving and critical thinking capabilities are some of the important benefits of learning through an all-rounded curriculum.

In today’s environment of rapid changes, the government jobs are shrinking and the only way for youth seeking a promising future is to horn their skills. Young people face many challenges, including underemployment, unemployment, and lack of opportunities and the only way to get past all these is skill development which is a process of acquiring new talents or enhancing existing ones. Onthe-job training, apprenticeships, formal schooling, and vocational training are all included in scope of skill development. The skill development is going to be a top government priority as it not only helps people find better career prospects but also advances the nation’s economy. In 2015, the Govt had launched the Skill India Mission to create convergence across sectors and states in terms of skill training activities and to achieve the vision of ‘A Skilled India’ of creating an army of employable youth. Training partners were roped in to impart skill training both in urban and rural areas across the country. 300 million youth were to be given skill-based training by 2024. However, nearly 26 million youth have been trained so far. This is where an accelerating impact is needed if we are to become a $5 trillion economy.

Skill development results in swelling the pool of available youth with up-to-date skills and are more employable. Those with modernized skills are in great demand and are more likely to land better jobs and earn more money. The skill development makes youth self - reliant as it enables them to launch their own firms or become entrepreneurs, boosting the economy. Multi skilled youth with new information and abilities has better flexibility in terms of changing occupations.

The skill development will require synergised efforts from the public and private sectors as well as from educational institutions. The government can finance training initiatives and offer rewards to businesses that make skill-development investments, the companies in the private sector can design apprenticeships and training programs to aid people in learning new skills and the educational institutions can run courses that are applicable to the labour market. These three institutions with a positive participation of youth can significantly contribute to the development of skills.

A holistic skill development at an early age in school education is the need of the hour and it encompasses the following:

ENHANCES CREATIVITY
A school curriculum with skillbased learning enhances creativity and makes the children more imaginative. The learning of skills at an early is much easier and apart from learning basic skills for better career the students must engage in dancing, singing, and drawing activities as the advantages of indulging in such activities extend far beyond acquiring those specific skills.

PURPOSE ORIENTED EDUCATION
It is time to modify the traditional education system focused on marks and grades to include skill-based learning to prepare the children to face today’s real world. Most students, even after completing their education, remain clueless about what career path to choose. Skill development during school education will help kids figure out their strengths and weaknesses quite early on in their lives. They will learn with a clear long-term objective instead of focusing solely on passing exams with high marks.

ENCOURAGES INDEPENDENT AND OUT OF BOX THINKING
The skill development opens multiple avenues to learn from, and makes more confident and independent individuals. Independence of thoughts and out of box thinking comes by applying concepts in the real world. A curriculum cantered on skill development encourages kids to think deeper and solve problems independently. They build high self-esteem and emerge as leaders as they are trained to think critically and analytically right from an early age.

ACCEPTING FAILURES POSITIVELY
Skill development and training helps instil emotional maturity in students. Learning new skills requires students to be willing to experiment. While doing so, they might face failures and disappointments but that will eventually prepare them to accept failures gracefully and develop a ‘never give up’ attitude.

AVAILABILITY OF BETTER WORKFORCE FOR FUTURE
Starting skill development in schools at an early age can have a positive impact on the general fabric of the country’s workforce in the long run. The latest technology that enables audio-visual learning, interactive and smart classrooms, makes our students more competent. Early introduction of skill development in the curriculum simplifies the transition from student to a working professional; and the country will have a more superior workforce in the making. The skill development is crucial for future generations youth and it holds the key to increased entrepreneurship, greater employment prospects, and economic progress. To ensure that youth have the abilities and information needed to succeed in the dynamic job market, governments, private businesses, and educational institutions must work coherently. There is a need to focus on the initiating skill development and further horn on these skills for brighter future of the youth and development and progress of our nation. Creating an army of employable, skilled, self-esteemed youth will be key to India’s aspirations of a $5 trillion economy.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Col Rajesh Bhukar The writer is a Post Graduate in International Studies, Alumni of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Combat, Mhow [email protected]