ITANAGAR, Feb 6: The All Arunachal Tourism Student’s Union has requested the education minister to initiate urgent steps for introduction of vocational courses under the National Skills Qualifications Framework at middle, secondary and higher secondary levels of government schools and government-registered/CBSE-affiliated private schools in the state from the 2020-21 session.
In a representation to the minister, the union on Wednesday stated that the union human resource development (HRD) ministry and the CBSE’s vocational education department have directed all authorities concerned to introduce vocational courses introduced by the HRD ministry and the vocational education department at the secondary and the senior secondary levels.
“The Central Board of Secondary Education has started offering 15 vocational courses in different sectors at the secondary level, and 40 courses at the senior secondary level in order to upgrade the skill and proficiency of the young generation and to provide them awareness to explore various career options. However, in Arunachal Pradesh only few vocational courses are introduced at secondary and senior secondary schools,” it said.
In a separate memorandum to the tourism minister, the union on Thursday demanded early establishment of a National Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management in the state.
“Due to absence of a tourism and hotel management college/university in the state, students are facing problems in pursuing regular master’s and bachelor’s degree in the field of travel tourism and hospitality management. A degree in tourism and hospitality management offers a wide range of choices for students to gain value, skills and teaches about business management, marketing fundamentals, etc,” it said, and urged the minister to look into the matter at the earliest.
The union’s other demands include “immediate completion” of the ongoing construction work on the national highways; completion of the Hollongi greenfield airport; and scrapping of 100 percent recruitment rule for district tourism officers and ensuring recruitment for the posts through the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Combine Competitive Examination.
