The government on Tuesday unveiled a vocational qualification framework for technical institutes in the country which will involve students from school level. The move is aimed at creating a pool of skilled hands in the country, vital for the economy,

The National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF) programme will be implemented in association with AICTE in polytechnics, engineering colleges and other insitutions in the University systems from 2012-13 to churn out trained professionals for various sectors. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, the sectors include IT, media, entertainment, telecommunications, mobile communications, automobile, construction, retail, food processing, tourism, hotels, jewellery design and fashion design etc.

The programme envisages seven certificate levels with class 9 acting as the first level and class 12 as level IV. Mr. Sibal said, a student will get his degree once he has completed level VII. The programme has a flexible entry and exit scheme as students entering the programme after passing class 12 can take a bridge course to upgrade his skill level taught between level I and IV. He said they will identify institutes which will act as the skill knowledge providers.