Here high-scorers opt for ITI, an ‘assured path’ to employment

From the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), Director Digambar Dalvi, said, “Many students are choosing ITI because these are skill-based courses with guaranteed employment."

Nikhil Hiwale from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, who scored 98 per cent in Class 10, has decided to take admission in ITI even as his ultimate plan is to pursue engineering. (Photo: Industrial Training Institute)

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

Conventionally, a perfect 100 per cent scorer of Class 10 would have decided to opt for an engineering or medical course. But Prathmesh Suryavanshi chose to take admission in an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) to pursue his dream to become a loco-pilot.

Prathamesh represents a new set of young individuals choosing ITIs, which were traditionally considered to be skill-based courses taken up by students with low marks as it guaranteed a swift employment as electrician, mechanic etc, after a two-year course.

From the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), Director Digambar Dalvi, said, “Many students are choosing ITI because these are skill-based courses with guaranteed employment. It is also affordable compared to other professional courses. Additionally, we are also offering new-age technology courses now, with changing times.”

Justifying his decision, Prathamesh from Mumbai said, “I want to drive the train. After completing ITI, I will be eligible to appear for the competitive test by railways for loco-pilot appointments. After clearing the test, I have to undergo rigorous training. All this is already going to take time, I did not want to give more time in obtaining a degree, when my goal is decided.”

On the contrary, Nikhil Hiwale from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, who scored 98 per cent in Class 10, has decided to take admission in ITI even as his ultimate plan is to pursue engineering. “I will end up spending more years, but it is a more assured path toward engineering as I will get direct second year admission in engineering diploma as well as in degree, without having to appear for entrance tests. Simultaneously, with ITI certification I can also take part-time employment opportunities,” said Nikhil, son from a family of farmers.

It has been a prevalent practice that students who successfully complete an engineering diploma get admission to engineering degree courses, directly in the second year. Last year, the Maharashtra government announced that students completing ITI will get a direct second year entry to engineering diploma.

Another farmer’s son, Kiran Aage from Jalna, however, is looking for urgent employment options and chose to take admission in ITI even after scoring 98 per cent in Class 10. “With ITI certification, I can apply for a government job right here. As I help my parents on the farm, I cannot attend a regular college. I tried pursuing Class 11 and 12 but I scored very low after not being able to dedicate time to studies.”

Pallavi Smart

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

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

Tags:
Mumbai