World Bank survey for school course

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">KOLKATA: A four-member World Bank team is in the city to collect information on the vocational education network in the state. <br /><br />"The visit follows the interest expressed by India and the state for mobilising multilateral funding to further vocational education. West Bengal has already declared vocational education as a major thrust area," said a senior official the school education department.<br /><br />The team which arrived on February 14, has met top officials of the education department to gather information on the existing and ongoing schemes of the state promote vocational education. "The group visited Loreto Sealdah, Mitra Institution, Patha Bhavan, Shyambazar AV and Don Bosco, Liluah, to get a first hand view of the courses conducted by them," the official said. <br /><br />The technical education department has reportedly prepared a detailed report on vocational education which will provide the World Bank team an insight into the prospects and viability of funding projects in the sector. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal">"We are trying to introduce vocational education from Class VIII onwards in a bid to train the students relevant skills to improve their job prospects. If manage to rope in multilateral agencies to fund these programmes, then the training can be upgraded and latest techniques can be incorporated," a joint secretary the education department told <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">TOI</span> on Wednesday. <br /><br />The state has been laying lot of emphasis on vocational education to prepare students for the competitive job market. Moreover, would create skilled employees speciality sectors. The World Bank representatives also met several industry representatives to the gauge the skills in demand. <br /><br />Figures available with the state school education department, however, tell sorry tale about the enrolment in vocational education programmes. Less than one per cent of the student population opt for such courses. "The trick is to catch them young. <br /><br />We have to start the process from the elementary and secondary levels. The emerging opportunities healthcare, information technology and hospitality sectors can be tapped only if relevant skills can be imparted," explained the principal of a school where such courses are imparted.<br /></div> </div>