Skill Counsellors: The Missing Link....

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The effectiveness of any skill development program heavily depends on the support provided to students throughout their journey. An integral part of this support is skill counselling, which aims to guide and assist students during the mobilization, admissions, and assessments, including Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Unfortunately, the current state of skill counselling in India leaves much to be desired. There is a significant shortage of dedicated counselling professionals who can provide the necessary guidance and support to students as they navigate the complex skill development landscape. This shortage becomes particularly evident during the mobilization, admission, and placement phases when students require accurate information about courses, career prospects, hiring practices, and the relevance of different programs to their goals. Some of it can be offset by technology (kiosks, websites), or through print material(brochures, leaflets) but may not be able to replace the human interface.  Limited counselling resources often result in inadequate career counselling, leaving students ill-informed about the best-fit options for their interests and abilities.

The responsibility for counselling is invariably taken lightly and passed to one of the trainers who are ill-equipped for the task. A Skill Concellor can add value and make a substantial difference by:
  • proactively engaging with potential students, schools, and communities to raise awareness about the benefits of TEVT programs
  • guiding students through the admissions process, providing personalized support, and assisting them in selecting the most suitable programs based on their interests, aptitude, and future goals.
  • offering valuable guidance to students, helping them prepare for these assessments, and providing constructive feedback to improve their performance.
  • facilitating this process by assessing and validating prior learning experiences, and ensuring that individuals receive appropriate credits and exemptions.
While experienced trainers may possess some of the necessary skills, it is crucial not to make exceptions, the rule. Skill counseling requires a specific set of qualifications, experience, and skills. An ideal skill counsellor should hold a degree in psychology, counselling, or vocational education. Practical experience in the skills sector, combined with a comprehensive understanding of industry dynamics, job market trends, and the challenges faced by TVET students, is essential. Additionally, a skill counsellor should be well-versed in the TVET ecosystem, courses, pathways, NSQF, multiple industry sectors, job market demands, and changing technologies. Effective communication, career counseling, problem-solving, and decision-making skills are also vital. Furthermore, a commitment to continuous learning and skills upgrading is essential.

It is time that set of National Occupational Standards is developed for a trainer to upgrade to a skills counsellor at an appropriate NSQF level. It is time to make this position mandatory across TVET institutions, both Government and private, to ensure that students receive the guidance and support they need to make informed decisions and achieve their career goals.


Comments

  1. Manisha16 June 2023 at 10:04

    There is lack of support from SSCs also as you approach them to find out about their training partners or training programmes you realise many such centres are fake or have stopped their program. The currency and validity of data available on their website needs to be updated.

    ReplyDelete

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