Vocational education should be an integral aspect of schooling

The National Curriculum Framework takes the economic well-being of students well into account

- ANURAG BEHAR

The National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 (NCF) integrates Vocation Education (VE) in the curriculum of Indian schools. Why? Because for most children, gainful employment after completing school is critical. Also, because even those who don't need to earn their livelihood immediately after school are better prepared for life with the knowledge and capacities that VE develops.

The NCF must confront three interrelated challenges for this integration. First, the practicality of how this will happen. Second, the societal view of VE being for those who cannot succeed in 'mainstream' education. Third, a philosophical bias' in Indian education against VE, which ranges from indifference to hostility. These are dealt by the NCF with the approach it takes to VE. But first, let's take up the philosophical bias', because it is less known.

The consensus among those who have led the intellectual direction of school education has been that schools must aim to develop good human beings, and with that a just and humane society and a vibrant democracy. Irrespective of differences within this consensus-for example, self-actualization versus citizenship-the economic aims' of education (preparing students for jobs) have systematically been de-prioritized. The assumption has been that all other learning will anyway prepare students for jobs; that VE is the thin end of the wedge for the 'market' to control education; and implicitly for many and explicitly for some, VE isn't cerebral enough. This needs a separate confessional column because I too was guilty.