Earn while learn programme provides opportunities to the students to earn while they are learning through part-time jobs. Instead of going for regular studies of graduation and post-graduation, students prefer to go in for short term professional courses so that they start earning at a young age.
‘Learning by doing’ and ‘earning by learning’ is one of the most important pillars of future career development. Vocational education is a great combination of work and learning. The students of various streams not only financially support their studies but also gain practical experience which would stand by them in their later career. This helps the students to gain first-hand experience of the corporate world and thereby develop their self-confidence and personality. Accordingly, the students are encouraged to take up vocational training or part-time jobs after completing their regular classes or during holidays which would enhance their rating at the time of final placements.
Students must weigh their qualification skill and knowledge more wisely because skills and capabilities are also important with ranks or grades. Benjamin Franklin quotes, “tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn” this defines vocational training.
What is Vocational Training?
Vocational training, also known as Vocational Education & Training (VET) and Career & Technical Education (CTE), provides job-specific technical training for work in a specific career. Along with certification, these programs generally focus on providing students with hands-on instruction.
Vocational training programmes are more skill-oriented than theory ranging from Agriculture, Fitness, Beauty, Hotel, Healthcare, Maintenance, Aviation, Defence and Engineering. It also caters most of the intricate sectors such as Interior Designing, Media and many more.
Vocational training provides a link between education and the working world. It is usually provided either at the high school level or in a post-secondary trade school. Eligibility with a minimum passing requirement from 10th or 12th grade. The course duration ranging anything from 3 months to 2 years.
Is work and learn a good option?
Yes. Definitely!
- It provides opportunities for students to earn while learning to meet their expenses
- Exposes the students to the world of work before actual employment
- Gives students hands-on experience and confidence thereby prepares them better for taking up jobs in future
- The government scheme of ‘Earn while you learn’ is turning out to be a major draw for several college students who might have otherwise dropped out due to financial reasons
Need for earning while learning:
- Earning while learning is more than a necessity for students coming from poor financial conditions
- Working learners are more concerned about enhancing their resumes and gaining work experience than paying for tuition
- Students who work are upwardly mobile, much more aware of the working conditions, corporate ethics and the world that they are going to enter. Hence, they will be prepared, emotionally and mentally, for the changes after graduation
- Working learners develop stronger ties between the worlds of work and education
- The students are aware of their corporal value, they can choose wisely
- The already working graduates benefit from their work experience, which becomes an asset when they enter the full-time job market
- Even for the adults, who wish to study more, can rely on working while learning
Benefits of vocational education:
- Vocational education is having wider opportunities for a job compared to traditional schooling or college
- The trade programs allow students not only to excel technically but overall improves the personality of the trainee learning elective subjects such as English, Soft Skills and Information Technology
- Vocational education has a shorter duration of training as compared to traditional learning. Students struggle to find jobs and not satisfied with what they do despite devoting 2-5 years full time in the course
- A vocational degree holder has a good attitude towards work which makes them adjust to the industry environment with ease
Challenges of vocational education:
- Lack of teaching materials and learning aids
- Lack of qualified and properly trained instructors
- Inadequate funding
- Inadequate facilities
- Outdated training contents of vocational training programmes
- Dropouts – Students for some reason discontinue vocational training
- A paradigm shift in thinking – Lack of knowledge to students and their parents regarding vocational educational
With support from the ministry of education, it is possible to achieve a greater mission for the students by overcoming challenges in the field of vocational education. The survival skills provide the pathways from education to work. The rise in the number of working learners is a natural evolution of our work-based society.
