CHANDIGARH: As part of the series of initiatives are being taken by the Punjab Government to impart vocational education to the students in the government schools, Punjab Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla said that an amount of Rs.23.65 crore has been released for setting up the skill labs in 379 government schools.
Divulging the details, the Education Minister said that under the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF), nine trades of vocational education are being imparted in the government schools of Punjab. He said that these trades include Security, Retail, Apparel, Construction, IT, Beauty and Wellness, Physical Education, Healthcare, Travel and Tourism.
He said that with the establishment of these labs in 379 schools under NSQF, it will become easier for the students to do practical work on these vocational subjects.
Singla said that the unit price for setting up of each trade lab has also been fixed including Rs two lakhs for Physical Education, Retail and Travel and Tourism, Rs 2.25 lakhs for Security, Rs. 2.5 lakhs for Apparel and Construction, Beauty and Wellness respectively and Rs 3 lakh for IT / ITES and Rs 5 lakh for health care.
He mentioned that funds worth Rs 197.25 lakh for Amritsar, Rs 62.25 lakh for Barnala, Rs 161.75 lakh for Bathinda, Rs 57.75 lakh for Faridkot, Rs 27.75 lakh for Fatehgarh Sahib, Rs 94.5 lakh for Fazilka, Rs 101.25 lakh for Ferozepur, Rs 230 lakh for Gurdaspur, Rs 90 lakh for Hoshiarpur, Rs 159.5 lakh for Jalandhar, Rs 47.75 lakh for Kapurthala, Rs 146.75 lakh for Ludhiana, Rs 83.75 lakh for Mansa, Rs 94 lakh for Moga, Rs 37 lakh for SAS Nagar, Rs 177 lakh for Sri Muktsar Sahib, Rs 71.25 lakh for SBS Nagar, Rs 58.25 lakh for Pathankot, Rs 213 lakh for Patiala, Rs 72.25 lakh for Rupnagar, Rs 93.5 lakh for Sangrur and Rs 89 lakh for Tarn Taran district, have been released.
He said that instructions have been issued for setting up of these labs, the funds must be utilized within a month by forming a six-member committee.
He said that the committee should consist of the school head, chairman of the school management committee, two members of the school management committee including a female member, a concerned vocational trainer and another senior teacher. The committee will procure all the goods as per the specified specifications, he added.
The Minister further cleared that no advance payment should be made to any firm and the entire record should be maintained. If the goods are found to be of inferior quality or are not procured as per the specifications, the sole responsibility will be of the school head. He said that the entire accessories of IT trade and computers must be insured and must have AMC.
He stated that the Sector Skill Council would conduct a practical assessment of the students of the schools where NSQF lab has been established and now Punjab has achieved the target of setting up labs in 955 schools teaching NSQF subjects.