World Bank asks India to reform its skills training

India must make a coordinated effort to reform and rebrand vocational skill training, besides aligning education with the job market, to leverage its demographic advantage to meet its $5-trillion economic target, according to the World Bank.

- Rhik Kundu

"While globally true, in India, there is an overpowering narrative around skill education being for students who are weak and would have dropped out," World Bank said in report titled 'Jobs at Your Doorstep' released on Friday. "The result is that many students who want to or can benefit more from skill education than mainstream education run to conventional streams like arts, commerce or STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)." "Concerted efforts are needed towards rebranding skill education," the report added.

Workers must develop complex problem-solving, teamwork and adaptability skills, said the report, stressing that job exposure should be offered during school years.