India's Skills Challenge

Description

India’s demographic profile is changing: a sizeable and growing proportion of its total population is in the working age group, which is a window of opportunity for the country. However, the numbers are not backed by necessary skills. Over half of the country’s workforce does not have primary education, and a miniscule fraction has any formal vocational education and training. The contemporary focus on skill development in India is aimed at bridging this gap and skills mismatch.    This book critically reviews the vocational training system in India. Based on primary surveys of vocational training providers and enterprises, it provides a comprehensive agenda of reforms to improve the employability of India’s youth. It recommends that vocational training must be expanded in secondary schools (in which India lags) and higher education institutions, industry participation must be enhanced, and the National Vocational or Skills Qualification Framework must be implemented.   It cautions that without the rapid and effective implementation of this reform agenda, India may not be able to harness its demographic dividend, which is predicted to last only for another quarter of this century.

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