Kerala fails to implement skill qualification network

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is the only state in the country that has not implemented the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF).

This is even after Union Minister for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy had made it clear that Government institutions imparting education and training programmes would have to comply with NSQF.

He had also made it clear that funds for skill training would be released to government institutions for skill training if they joined NSQF by 2017.

The scheme covered all students from standard nine to twelve. NSQF is a competency-based framework that organised all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude. While all other states have opted to join the NSQF, the state has been keeping out of the framework.

The levels of NSQF are defined in terms of learning outcomes which the learner must possess regardless of whether they are obtained through formal, non-formal or informal learning. NSQF in India was notified on December 27, 2013. Under NSQF, the learner can acquire the certification for competency needed at any level through formal, non-formal or informal learning. As per the plan, NSQF will become compulsory for a government job by 2020 and is going to integrate vocational education, skill training, general education, technical education and the job market.

There are four levels namely L1 (class IX), L2 (class X), L3 (class XI) and L4 (class XII) - for NSQF implementation. The first two levels will be of a preparatory nature, while the other two will impart skill sets to students.