Vocational Education Mission for skill development: PM

Hyderabad, Dec 5 (UNI) Pointing out that the industrial sector was facing huge skill shortage even as the country was achieving targetted economic growth, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the Centre was opening new institutions under the 'Vocational Education Mission' to meet the shortfall.

Speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) here, Dr Singh said, ''The institutions will be established at various levels of the knowledge pyramid, with particular emphasis on a vocational education mission.'' Observing that the high salaries and the increased attrition rate in the private sector were signs of supply constraints and competition, the Prime Minister said the mission would help provide required talent to the private firms.

Stating that there was also a need for continuous adaption of skills and reorientation of outlook as the external environment was changing and new challenges arising, Dr Singh called upon the managers to acquire the skills to cope up with the increased uncertainty of the overall business environment.

''The managers need to be adequately sensitive to the imperative of preserving and protecting the ecological balance and the essential life support system of our planet,'' Dr Singh added.

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