The HRD ministry along with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on Monday did a round table with the industry experts from the infrastructure and construction sectors on soon to be launched National Vocational Qualification Framework.

The framework, meant for students from class nine onwards, will focus on the need to introduce relevant courses for skill development. Students pursuing this programme will receive a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) vocational degree on the lines of current CBSE academic degrees.

This is the fifth exchange of dialogue between the ministry and the industry. Earlier the ministry had called experts from the field of automobiles, telecom, entertainment, and hospitality.

Industry has been facing a consistent skills deficit as most graduates do not possess the skills needed to compete in the global economy. The framework will attempt to bring changes in the system and its orientation towards building employable students.

HRD minister Kapil Sibal said it will also be a good option for school drop outs who left studies because of little interest in the usual courses.

Sibal added, "We need to prepare young people through vocational courses to meet demands of the industry. And this we need to start early at school level."

A joint certificate will be awarded to the students in this programme. This will be in coordination with the CBSE or the state board or the university. The certificate will have recognition from the academia and from the industry. The curriculum will be competency based and will not be based on marks.

Minister added, "We will have to create architecture in such a way that child can come back to academics if he or she wants."

Once the framework is implemented students will be able to study further and specialise in the same stream.

After the discussions with industry experts, a committee will be set up which will further work on deciding the syllabi based on industry requirement.

The framework is expected to be ready for implementation by next academic year.