TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The newly released draft investment policy of the state is planning to allow 12-hour shifts “subject to the maximum working hours per week remaining as per relevant law” and exempt units from observing statutory holidays as well as envisaging integrated educational hubs.
The hubs will offer a variety of high-quality courses from K-12 to advanced post-graduate courses. The policy also promises that the Government will support institutions of global repute interested in setting up satellite stand-alone campuses in Goa.
Wanting to also concentrate on light engineering industries, the policy acknowledging that skilled craftsmen were a critical requirement for the industry, says that the Government plans to revamp the “courses offered and syllabi at the ITIs and Polytechnic in Goa, in consultation with industry,” by setting up a Education Task Force.
A sub-committee to the proposed Education Task Force, made up of industry players and officials to evaluate existing courses and make recommendations on syllabi change as well as introduction of new courses at IITs. Further, it also plans on developing a framework to ensure adequate industrial training for them.
The light engineering industry would broadly include electrical, electronics & instrumentation, medical equipment, IT hardware, mechanical and other environmentally friendly hi-tech engineering units. Light engineering are being specifically encouraged through incentives and infrastructure enablement for such units.
Stating that the Government realizes the importance of availability of human capital with adequate skills for the growth of industries besides setting up of an Education Task Force to suggest changes in courses offered and syllabi, separate sub-committees will also be setup for degree, diploma and skill training courses and will consist of representatives from educational institutions and nominees from a cross-section of industries representing the thrust areas identified. It is planning on setting up of a Counseling Cell to counsel candidates prior to entry into professional, skill training courses to ensure sync between skill sets and interest in course being taken, introduction of new courses to meet current and expected requirements based on the recommendations of the Education Task Force; mandatory internships and industry interactions for all courses of a specified duration; creation of a database of students passing out and sharing with industry to facilitate employment of youth.
