Premium

Pottery, organic farming: Delhi govt plans vocational training for middle-school students

The total time allotted for pre-vocational education is 110 hours, and the highest weightage (30% each) is for assessment through viva voce and activity book

DelhiA recent circular by the Department of Education, for the first time, has recommended an implementation strategy (Archive)

Hands-on training in pottery, organic farming, basic carpentry, bicycle repair, traditional food preparation, and hand weaving, among others — the Delhi Education Department has set out elaborate guidelines to introduce pre-vocational education among middle school students (Class VI to VIII) in Delhi’s schools this year.

An activity Book of vocational education, titled ‘Kaushal Bodh’, was first introduced last year in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.

A recent circular by the Department of Education, for the first time, has recommended an implementation strategy.

Pre-vocational subjects will be introduced in a phased manner, as books will be released offline for classes 7 and 8 by the NCERT.

Three categories of work under NCF-SE 2023:

– ‘Work with Life Forms’, wherein projects related to plants and animals are included.

– ‘Work with Machines and Materials’ is related to fabrics and wood, among others.

– ‘Work in Human Services’ involves “interaction with people” in the healthcare, food sectors, community service, among others.

Story continues below this ad

In each grade, students have to complete one project from each form of work in the academic year. The total time allotted for pre-vocational education is 110 hours, and the highest weightage (30% each) is for assessment through viva voce and activity book.

Under the implementation strategy, the circular stated that “existing subject teachers shall be trained for Kaushal Bodh sessions for facilitating different activities in classes 6 to 8”.

Roles and responsibilities of school heads and regular teachers have been laid down:

For school heads

– Support the integration of vocational education as a distinct subject

– Provide necessary resources, tools for project execution

For regular teachers

– Enable students to use available resources effectively

Story continues below this ad

– Adhere to safety protocol while making students understand material preparation, tools used

– Encourage students to apply ‘work in school’ in real-life situations

The department has announced the organisation of a ‘Kaushal Mela’ at the school level, which may be clubbed with other school activities for better participation. Under such a programme, showcasing projects made by students, live demonstrations, among others, have been recommended. Funds for the projects recommended under the ‘Kaushal Bodh’ textbook will be utilised from those allocated for pre-vocational activities/SMC, it said.

Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Professional Background Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education. Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses: 1. The Air Pollution Crisis "A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure. "Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR. "Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter. 2. Enforcement & Regulations "No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy. 3. Education Policy "Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. "Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation. Signature Style Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws. X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Advertisement
Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments