Include fisheries in vocational courses: NGO

The Friends of Marine Life, an NGO working in the fisheries sector, has written to the Education Minister expressing its worry at the lack of any fisheries-related courses on the list of courses approved by the National Skill Qualification Committee, which will be taught in Government Vocational Higher Secondary Schools in the State. They said this would affect even the survival of Fisheries Vocational Higher Secondary schools.

As per an order of the Public Education Department issued on May 9, the courses as approved by the skills committee will be implemented in 147 batches across 66 schools from the 2018-19 academic year.

The committee has approved 12 job roles across nine skill sectors. But not even one of these courses is related to the fisheries sector, according to the NGO.

The NGO raised other related issues including the lack of opportunities for continued education for those who complete vocational training from fisheries schools. It has requested reservation for students from such schools in courses in Fisheries Science, Oceanography, Aquatic Biology, Marine Biology, Industrial Fisheries and Navigation in universities in the State.

The lack of basic infrastructure in many of these schools, where mostly children of fish workers study, is another issue.

The syllabus has not been updated. There has also been a drop in enrolment to fisheries schools as many classrooms here are used as relief camps for those affected by sea erosion for extended periods. Alternative locations should be found for relief camps.