Education ministry workshop focuses on school-to-work transitions, improving assessment system

NEW DELHI: The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education, hosted a two-day Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) workshop in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, from September 30 to October 1. The workshop focused on school-to-work transition and strengthening the assessment system.

During the inaugural speech, MP transport and school education minister Uday Pratap Singh said that the National Education Policy ( NEP ) 2020 emphasizes on the overall development of children. He also mentioned that the STARS project will play a crucial role in the transformation of the education system.

STARS workshop

Day 1: School-to-Work Transition

School education department secretary Sanjay Kumar provided essential context for the workshop, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between education and employment. Sanjay Goyal, secretary, MP education department, highlighted the importance of this workshop and cross-learning which can happen between the states through such platforms.

The first panel discussion, moderated by Vipin Kumar, focused on the role of policy frameworks such as NEP, National Curriculum Framework (NCF), and National Credit Framework (NCrF) in school-to-work transitions. Discussions highlighted the integration of skill education into school curricula, the role of the NCF in fostering multi-disciplinary learning and adaptability, and the importance of continuous evaluation and updating of curricula to match industry standards. The panel also addressed the promotion of real-world exposure through internships and apprenticeships under NEP and NCrF, the flexibility of learning pathways through NCrF, and the role of policies in bridging the gap between academia and industry.

NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani, in his presentation, said that departments need to work in integration with a common vision of strengthening the education system for our future generations. He also highlighted the need to align the curriculum with the industry demands to make school-to-work transition more seamless for young learners.

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CBSE skills director Biswajit Saha talked about strengthening 21st century skills across CBSE schools and moderated a panel discussion on the challenges and potential solutions in integrating skill hubs into the educational landscape, sharing experiences and best practices, and discussing strategies for effective implementation within schools and communities.

A panel discussion on psychometric analysis and career counselling in skill education was moderated by Usha Titus, managing director, additional skill acquisition programme, Kerala. The discussion centred on assessing the effectiveness of career counselling programmes using data from psychometric assessments, evolving trends in career counselling, and the challenges faced in preparing students for the future workforce.

Supriya A R, SPD of Kerala, discussed the partnerships with industry and work-based learning opportunities, leading to a panel discussion moderated by Rajesh Sharma, SPD, Himachal Pradesh. The panel discussed building effective partnerships between schools and industry bodies, collaborating on programmes, internships, and job placement efforts, and identifying best practices to enhance work-based learning.

Day 2: Strengthening Assessment System

On the second day, Kumar discussed the current effectiveness and need for improvement in assessment models. Idzes Angmo Kundan, principal secretary, Maharashtra, delivered an insightful presentation on psychometric analysis and career counselling in skill education, where she highlighted the 3 P approach to career choice, i.e., personal interest, parental approach, and possible opportunities.

Dinesh Singh Kushwaha, director, public instructions, MP, made a presentation on enhancing student outcomes through strengthening assessment systems for future education. Jonas Bertling, director of Educational Testing Service (ETS), discussed innovations in educational assessment. Major Vishal Sharma, secretary, Himachal Pradesh Board for Secondary Education (HPBOSE), highlighted innovative assessment practices that empower students for future education.

A presentation on VSK implementation in the state of Chhattisgarh was presented by Pardeshi Siddharth Komal, principal secretary, Chhattisgarh. He moderated a panel discussion on VSK modes and integrating assessment outcomes for informed decision-making. The panel provided insights on objectives and components of VSK including data collection and analysis, and strategies for integrating assessment outcomes with learning objectives.

Ashish Modi, director, secondary education, Rajasthan, presented the importance of an assessment cell. The presentation was followed by a panel discussion on the theme of Strengthening Assessment Cells in states, which was moderated by M K Shanmuga Sundaram, principal secretary, Basic Education, Uttar Pradesh. The panel discussed the role of assessment cells in enhancing educational effectiveness, innovative practices adopted by these cells and the challenges faced along with strategies for mitigation.