Over 170 Students Join Skill Development Programme in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: More than 170 students and vocational lecturers from Government Vocational Higher Secondary Schools across Odisha have joined a five-day skill development training programme aimed at improving practical knowledge and job-related skills among students.

Organised by the School and Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha, the programme began on October 12 at the Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC) and the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM). It will continue until October 16, focusing on strengthening students’ vocational competencies through practical training in different trades.

Participants from four trades—Audio-Visual Training (AVT), Drone Pilot (DP), Catering and Restaurant Management—are attending the programme.

At the inaugural programme, Additional Director of the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, Binita Senapati; Deputy Director Jitendra Nayak; CTTC Senior Manager (Training) K. M. Rajan; and Research Assistant Smitarekha Mohanty were present. Senior officials from the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, CTTC and IHM also attended.

Addressing the gathering, Senapati appreciated the Odisha Government’s efforts to strengthen vocational education and highlighted its role in equipping students with practical skills and improving their employment prospects. She expressed confidence that the initiative would help students develop specialised skills in their chosen trades before completing their higher secondary education.

She also stressed that the training would enable participants to gain technical knowledge along with the skills required to prepare for future employment.

Nayak appreciated the support of premier institutions such as CTTC and IHM in providing quality practical training. He outlined the objectives of the five-day programme and emphasised the need to encourage more students to participate in such initiatives to improve their vocational skills.

K. M. Rajan appreciated the enthusiasm of the participating students and assured CTTC’s continued support towards the state’s efforts to build a skilled workforce.

The programme is being conducted at both CTTC and IHM to provide training suited to the participants’ respective trades. At CTTC, students and lecturers from Angul, Deogarh, Jajpur, Cuttack, Balasore, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara and Puri districts are taking part.

The training programme also commenced at IHM in the presence of Regional Director (Eastern Region) Pranab Prakash, Principal Sharada Ghosh, Deputy Director Jitendra Nayak and Research Assistant Smitarekha Mohanty. Participants from Bhadrak, Koraput, Kandhamal, Khordha and Ganjam districts are attending the sessions at the institute.

The initiative is expected to strengthen vocational education by giving students greater exposure to practical learning and helping them develop trade-specific competencies alongside their higher secondary studies.