West Bengal government to adopt 3-tier model of skilling to strengthen technical education: Minister

West Bengal government has decided to adopt a 3-tier model of skilling with vocational training centres to strengthen technical education, said a minister. 

The minister said that the WB government will take up a three-tier model of skilling with vocational training centres at ITI institutes at blocks, panchayats, and a polytechnic college at every sub-division of the state, with the main aim of experience-based education and hands-on training. 

Humayun Kabir, the Technical Education and Skill Development Minister, said that his department is in the process of establishing one polytechnic institute in every subdivision across the state.

Further, he said that a total of 495 vocational training centres has been recognized by the WB government to upgrade and try to cluster the technical education with the labour department. 

This has been done to develop career counselling centres and district skill development plans, to recognize the skill gap and establish demand-oriented courses in every district of West Bengal, he said.

After realizing the value of the experience based education and hands-on training, the department has acquired a three-tier model of skilling with vocational training centres at panchayat level, a polytechnic institute, and an ITI at a block level at the sub-divisional level. 

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The minister addressed the fourth globalized education forum organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and said that the government has earmarked a total of INR 1,285 crore for technical education and training in the current financial year. Around 185 polytechnic colleges and 283 ITIs have already been operationalized under the “Utkarsh Bangla” scheme. 

Currently, a total of 628 vocational training centres are actively engaged in assisting aspirants to innovate, and present their ideas, which could be a step towards future industry-academia partnerships, the minister said. 

He continued saying that the WB government also wishes to establish centers of excellence in collaboration with industry associations in segments which have large employment potential. 

Meanwhile, the annual target of providing skill in West Bengal is nearly 6 lakh under the institutional and non-institutional mode, he concluded.