The insights from the study are based on a sample of 28,323 youth who are at different levels of development. Evidently, a large-scale vocational education system on the lines of the “dual” German model — classroom instruction plus apprentice training — would help raise the productivity of both individuals and the economy. ASER’s statistics indicate that overall, only 5.3% of the age group is enrolled in a vocational course, while 60.2% of out-of-school youth are engaged in some form of work. Among those who are already working in the 14-18 age group, 79% are engaged in farming, and that too in their family farms. By contrast, agriculture as work ranked very low as an aspiration among the youth.

Source: The Hindu February 04, 2018 18:45 UTC