Implementing various courses still an issue

Mumbai: The state education department and directorate of vocational courses and training (DVCT) came up with the idea of providing vocational courses to students of classes 9 and 10 enrolled in all state schools in 2011. Now that 500 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) run schools have also been selected by the state where vocational courses would be included in academics, the question of proper implementation still continues.

“It is indeed a great idea but the question remains on where are the expert teachers who will train these students? Where are the classrooms with the latest equipment? Also, how will we add another extra time for these classes in the daily routine of the students,” said a BMC education department official, on the condition of anonymity. The civic schools authorities too have complained that their classrooms are ill-equipped for such courses and they also lack the facilities and faculties required to run such courses.

The private schools in the city are continuing with basic vocational courses as an optional subject for the secondary schools. Fr Jude Fernandes, principal, St. Mary’s School, Mazgaon, a private school, feels that courses like these should be optional as it is the choice of the student whether they want to take the subject or not.

He said, “We have these trainings but we have maintained these are only for the students who are interested.