The state government is planning to bring in changes in the academic curriculum in cooperation with the universities to meet the demands of the industry, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Thursday while launching the State Skill Development Project under the Education Dept.
“Employability of those educated is a key issue in the state. There is no question of unemployment for unskilled labourers and the demand is met now through migrant labourers. But there is a dearth of hands in the skilled sector,” he said.
“We need young people, who have come through a finishing school-like process and can take up any job, thereby catering to the growing needs of the upcoming projects like Smart City, petrochemical complex and electronics park,” he said.
The Centre has mooted a project under the 12th five-year plan to upgrade skills for a targeted 32.5 crore youth in the country. The state has come up with a proposal to cover three lakh youths under the skill development programme and another 12 lakh under the skill enhancement programme.
“If the youths were going out of the state and abroad for jobs till now, we have to create an environment where they can find jobs here itself through skills development,” he said.
Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb presided over the meet. Ministers’ K M Mani, P K Kunhalikutty, Dr M K Muneer and Shibu Baby John, Shashi Tharoor MP, Mayor K Chandrika and others spoke. Chief secretary K Jayakumar welcomed the gathering. Planning Board vice-chairman K M Chandrasekhar delivered the keynote address. Higher education principal secretary Dr K M Abraham presented a report.
V K Mathews, executive council member, NASSCOM and executive chairman, IBS group, gave the endorsement from the IT sector to the project.