Skills based education is the mantra in recent times for India. It was launched with a big fan fare by our Prime Minister few months ago. The University Grants Commission is awarding grants to universities and educational institutes to initiate Bachelor’s Degrees in Vocational Education. There are several initiatives and programmes are on the anvil today.
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences, a premier institute in South Asia and the best in India launched the School of Vocational Education in December 2011 with the aim of developing and offering a variety of vocational courses at different levels – Degree, Advanced Diploma, Diploma and short term programmes in several sectors. It includes manufacturing, health care, banking and financial services, hospitality, social sector, human resources and sales and many more. This School of Vocational Education offers these programmes using the work integrated training model. This initiative is one of the pioneering efforts in the country, probably the first step in the direction of skilling India through the University system.
One of the programmes in social sector is the Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc.) in Child Protection. It was launched a year ago from eight cities and nine locations pan India – Guwahati, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Patna, Indore, Bhopal, Mangalore and Vijayapur. This programme has been designed with the sole purpose of creating a cadre of professionally qualified workers to meet the growing needs of child protection work.
India ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992. As a consequence India has taken several measures to protect children – the Juvenile Justice Act (2000, 2006, 2015), National Policy for Children, National Plan of Action for Children, National Commission for Protection of Children, State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights, Integrated Child Protection Scheme to name some. All these initiatives created a huge demand for professionally qualified workers in the area of Child Rights/Protection.
The Bachelor of Vocation in Child Protection is an effort to meet the demand for professionally qualified workers in the field. It includes knowledge specific to these areas and a large part of the programme includes on the job training for learners. Any individual who has completed Std. XII or equivalent level of education is eligible for admission in this programme, age being no bar. All those who have been working in the area of child rights and child protection and missed the opportunity for furthering their educationare eligible to join this programme. They can enroll for the course without leaving their job.
A unique feature is the flexibility in progression of education through multiple entry and exit possibility in the programme. Anyone completing year one is eligible for Diploma in Child Protection, Advanced Diploma on completing year two either immediately or after a break of any period. Similarly on completion of year three the person is eligible for the Bachelor’s Degree.
Individuals completing this programme can work in the Government or non-Government organizations and international agencies operating in the areas of child protection and child rights. Child Protection is a growing area with several job openings at various levels. For inquiries and further information please call 022 – 25525608 / 25525602. or you can also visit our website – sve.tiss.edu