Bifocal courses to be replaced with skill-based vocational courses

The General Civil course will be replaced with studies on General Mason/Brick Mason, Construction Painter and Decorator. Similar new courses have also been listed for other categories, such as commerce and agriculture groups.

“Teachers will be trained for the new courses. The theory part will be assessed by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, which conducts Class 12 examinations; and the practical assessment by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of Maharashtra,” reads the GR issued on Wednesday.

The move, however, has attracted criticism from stakeholders. According to colleges, the decision was taken without consulting anyone related to the bifocal courses.

Professor Ramesh Deshpande, vice principal of Bhavan’s College, said, “High-scoring students wanting to pursue engineering in the future would opt for bifocal courses offered under the technical group. But now that these are converted into vocation or skill-based courses, high-scoring candidates may not be interested. On the Class 12 board exam, the GR mentions that the state board will conduct theory assessment and the department of skill development will carry out practical assessment. This will add to the confusion. Ideally, there should have been a committee of knowledgeable persons before taking the decision to change these courses.”

Bhavan’s College has been running bifocal courses for many years now.

Additionally, teachers have also been complaining that the move risks loss of jobs as teaching requirements for the new courses are not in line with their training. The Maharashtra State Federation of Junior College Teachers Organisation will hold a meeting to discuss the impact of the move.

Professor Mukund Andhalkar, conveyer of the federation, said, “Even as new nomenclatures are given, the course structure remains unclear. Teachers fear being declared surplus. There are no clear guidelines on what happens to the existing teachers if their training is not in line with the new course structure.”