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According to the circular, students in classes 9 and 11 can now enroll in various skill subjects, with each school expected to accommodate up to 50 students per subject.
Students in Classes 9 and 11 can now enroll in various skill subjects, as per the circular (Representative image/File)
The Directorate of Education has approved the introduction of Skill/NSQF subjects in 257 more government schools in Delhi starting this academic session, officials announced. This initiative aims to boost vocational education throughout schools, as reported by PTI.
These subjects, part of the Samagra Shiksha scheme, are intended to provide students with practical knowledge and job-ready skills alongside their regular studies, according to a circular issued on May 23, the report added.
According to the circular, students in classes 9 and 11 can now enroll in various skill subjects, with each school expected to accommodate up to 50 students per subject. Schools have also been advised to conduct counseling sessions to help students understand the career opportunities available through these vocational subjects. Newly enrolled Class 11 students can opt for these subjects even if they haven’t studied them in Classes 9 or 10.
“This initiative is part of a flexible, multi-entry and multi-exit policy to make skill education more accessible,” the circular stated. It also noted that taking skill subjects is optional, not mandatory.
“Schools may offer the option, but it is not required for every student to enroll in a skill subject,” it added.
According to CBSE guidelines, schools do not need separate approval to introduce additional skill subjects. They just need to update the relevant details on the CBSE portal, as mentioned in the circular.
The National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) subjects include practical courses such as Information Technology, Retail, Healthcare, and Beauty and Wellness, aimed at enhancing students’ employability and career readiness.
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Meanwhile, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a policy that allows students who fail in one main subject in Class 10 to still pass the board exams, without taking a compartment exam, by replacing the failed subject with a passed skill-based subject.
The new curriculum framework from CBSE formally acknowledges the sixth subject, often a skill subject, as a possible replacement for a failed core subject, given that the student has passed the skill subject. This implies that a student who fails in Mathematics, Science, or Social Science but passes, for example, Computer Applications or Artificial Intelligence, will be considered to have passed the Class 10 board exams.
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