BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) and Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) have signed an MoU to provide practical, field-oriented vocational education in agriculture and allied sectors to school students.
The initiative, formally launched on Saturday at OUAT here, will initially introduce the dual mode vocational education programme in 26 PM SHRI government high schools across 20 districts of Odisha.
The MoU was signed in presence of OSEPA state project director Sangeeta Behera and OUAT dean of extension education Prof Sushant Kumar Swain.
Behera said there is a need to strengthen vocational education in Odisha and provide students with meaningful learning opportunities beyond conventional classroom education. The partnership between OSEPA and OUAT will create new opportunities for practical learning, skill development and career building in agriculture and allied sectors, she said.
Prof Swain welcomed the initiative and assured full cooperation from OUAT and its network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras for the effective implementation of the programme.
OSEPA officials said under the MoU, the 26 government high schools have been formally linked with OUAT, Bhubaneswar and designated Krishi Vigyan Kendras to facilitate dual-mode vocational education.
They said under the programme, students of Class IX and X will receive structured practical training and opportunities for field visits related to agriculture and allied vocational activities.
The students will be trained in six vocational areas such as mango cultivation, brinjal, tomato crop cultivation, paddy cultivation, animal health, dairy farming and citrus fruit cultivation. The vocational areas have been selected based on the agricultural potential of the respective districts, availability of local resources and livelihood opportunities.
The programme will also allow students to gain access to OUAT’s laboratories, agricultural farms and food-processing facilities, besides receiving technical guidance from experts working in areas such as agriculture, animal husbandry and horticulture.
The exposure is expected to help students understand real-world work environments and apply the skills acquired in school to practical situations, OSEPA officials said, adding that it also aims to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical work while strengthening employability, entrepreneurship and career readiness in line with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).