BHUBANESWAR:The Higher Education Department will introduce 12 vocational subjects in 1470 Plus Two colleges and 10 such subjects in 704 Plus Three colleges from 2015-16 academic session.
With the State Government emphasising on skill development of youths, the department has decided to introduce job-oriented courses as electives in both junior and degree colleges this year. So far, the Department was only offering Bachelors in Vocational Courses (BVoC) in Government Junior Vocational Colleges.
In junior colleges, these courses would be regarded as minor electives and carry 18 credits. Each subject will have six papers consisting of three theory and as many practical papers for three streams, said Director of Vocational Education, Roshanara Begum. These subjects include information technology, dairy farming, electrical domestic appliances, horticulture, travel and tourism management, fashion technology, paramedical and health care and food processing and preservation.
Each college has been asked to select two to six vocational subjects keeping in view the disciplines, presence of faculty members and infrastructure, laboratory facilities in the institutions. During admission, students of Arts, Science and Commerce streams will have to choose at least one vocational subject as elective.
As most of the junior colleges do not have proper laboratory facilities, the department has decided that practical for the vocational subjects will be conducted at ITIs, polytechnics, diploma institutions besides, banks and mobile service centres as per the subjects.
A 100 per cent attendance in practical of vocational subjects is mandatory. Principals have been directed to tie up with the training centres near their colleges.
In degree colleges, the Department will implement Choice Based Credit System from the new academic session. In addition to regular subjects, 10 industry-related trades will be introduced as major electives in Plus Three colleges. These subjects are food processing, fashion technology, health care, travel and tourism, printing technology and horticulture.
The new subjects will be integrated with the general time table of the colleges. With Plus Two admissions beginning on June 8, principals have been asked by the department to update their college profile in the SAMS (Students Academic Management System) website after selecting vocational subjects to be offered, by Sunday.