Goa seeks to emulate 'Gujarat model' on bridging skill gap

Panaji: Goa government is planning to learn from Gujarat state how to work out solutions in bridging the gap between employment opportunities and availability of skilled manpower.

Goa's Craftsman Training Minister Dipak Dhavalikar told the state Assembly last evening that a delegation would be soon visiting Gujarat to understand how the state has found the solution to link the available manpower with the requirements of the industry.

The skill gap report has pointed out to Gujarat model, which facilitates the students of vocational courses to be admitted in higher educational courses, Dhavalikar said.

"In Gujarat, the technical courses done by eighth standard level student in Industrial Training Institute (ITI) are considered at par with standard tenth (of general academics)," he said.

"Completing two-year ITI courses after class tenth, having passed NCVT (National Council for Vocational Training) or Gujarat Vocational Council examination are considered to be at par with Gujarat secondary and higher secondary board examination of XI or XII so as to enable the ITI trainees to opt for higher college education," he said.

Dhavalikar said that his department, in association with National Skill Development Corporation, has prepared a district-wise skill gap study report, which is right now before the government for consideration.

"The report has clearly suggested that manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, steel, ship building and food processing are major employment potential sectors. Hospitality is the biggest creator of new job opportunities," he said.

As per the report, the state's working population is likely to grow from 10.4 million to 10.8 million in 2017, an increase of 40,000, and will touch 11.3 million in 2022, the minister said.