Vocational education panel on the anvil

Students pursuing various vocational courses have a reason to cheer. The state government has decided to constitute the Maharashtra Vocational Education Commission (MVEC) for regulating all vocational courses. The MVEC will overhaul the curriculum of all vocational courses and grant the equivalence of SSC and HSC exams conducted by the Maharashtra State Board. State minister for higher and technical education Rajesh Tope made an announcement in this regard in the legislative council while replying to a calling attention motion by MLC Subhash Chavan on Thursday. He said all vocational courses, including ITI, MCVC, bifocal and also those conducted by Maharashtra State Board for Technical Education ( MSBTE) and Maharashtra State Board for Vocational Education (MSBVE) would be governed by the MVEC once it is set up. The decision has been taken in accordance with recommendations of a panel, led by Symbiosis director Swati Mujumdar, he said. The minister added that MVEC would offer vertical and lateral mobility to students of vocational courses which is not the case right now. After upgradation, students pursuing ITI or diploma would be awarded equivalent certificates. This will enable them to pursue higher education just like other students by undergoing a short-term bridge course, Tope said. Tope informed that the state government had consulted with the Maharashtra State Board and it had consented to the move.If private colleges are found conducting vocational courses that dont offer employability, MVEC would close or restructure them, Tope said.