Only 18.33% of students in Gujarat have opted for the Science stream. Gujarat is one of the top five states in the country to have the least number of students who opt for science in classes 11 and 12. As new age technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, internet of things, and industry 4.0. IT & ITES green economy, electric mobility and services, etc emerge; the state’s situation indicates a paucity of skills. In this light, meetings were held in the state cabinet and among the committee of secretaries. Now the government is planning to launch a new-age skill programme to ensure that students are ready with advanced technology that will ultimately get them employed.
Probable strategies were also discussed to increase the number of students who opt for science. “The NCERT report states that more than 50% of students opt for a science stream education in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, while only 18.3% do so in Gujarat. The report says that Gujarat ranks first in the country with 81.55% of students opting for an education in the arts stream,” said an official. The recent development focuses on a lot of aspects, about the quality of high school and higher secondary school education in Gujarat, and the unavailability of qualified teachers in the state.
As of now, the government seeks to source 56% of the new age skills talent pool from technical and vocational educational training (TVET) setups like ITIs, industry-run skill institutes and Kaushalya – The Skill University, while the remaining 44% will be sourced from higher education institutions, polytechnics and schools. New courses such as Green and Renewable Energy Production Management, Industrial Environment RTechnology and Management, and Sustainable and Natural Farming Practices are also being planned to be launched by the state ministry.
