Date:08/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/12/08/stories/2007120851312100.htm

Back TN Govt keen on skills development, employability

Committee formed to review school syllabus

— K. Ganesan

On skills: Mr Thangam Thennarasu, Tamil Nadu Minister for School Education, addressing a conference on skills, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry in Madurai on Friday.

Our Correspondent

Madurai, Dec. 7 The Tamil Nadu Government is conscious of the need to foster the development of skills in students from the school level in the emerging competitive scenario where the survival of the fittest is becoming the order.

The avowed policy of the State is to impart basic knowledge in English and computer operations to enhance their employability, said Mr Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for School Education, here on Friday.

Delivering the inaugural address at a conference on ‘Skills’, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Madurai Zone, he said the Government has formed a committee to review the school syllabus.

Every year around five lakh students complete school education but only around two lakh pursue higher education and the rest, for want of skills, find opportunities for employment difficult. Also in the present scenario, the qualification required at the time of joining in the employment is not enough.

Those having the requisite knowledge are unable to express themselves too. The future of the country depends on raising the level of skills in the people, the Minister said.

He complimented the CII for its efforts to address the need.

Mr N. Krishnamoorthy, Chairman-Task Force on Affirmative Action And Skills Development, CII, Madurai Zone and President-Dealership Business, T.V. Sundaram Iyengar and Sons Ltd, in his theme address stressed on the need to promote skills required in the manufacturing industry to sustain the development process.

The District Collector, Mr S.S. Jawahar, in his special address suggested that CII should endeavour to bring about awareness among school children on opportunities available to them not merely in IT but also in arts and pure sciences.

Mr R. Dinesh, Vice-Chairman, CII, Madurai Zone and Executive Director, T.V.Sundaram Iyengar and Sons Ltd, dwelt on the initiative of affirmative action taken by the industrial sector.