TISS graduates unable to apply for govt jobs over vocational course’s name

The students affected by the B.Voc. Degree in healthcare skills, offered by TISS under its School of Vocational Education, include those who passed out in 2022 and before. They are unable to register themselves with paramedical councils of respective states since their degree is not among the list of approved courses under these councils. The registrations are mandatory for those who wish to apply for government jobs in the healthcare sector in most states.

One of the affected students said, “Until I was working in the private sector there was no issue. I came to know about the problem after I was declared ineligible to apply for a government job.” The student shared that there is no exact number of affected candidates.

“This course was run by the school, in various centres across different parts of the country. The number of affected candidates could be close to 5,000 but cannot be sure of it as in some states they are able to work,” another student said, adding that they have now submitted a letter to the medical education minister of Maharashtra, requesting relief.

The institute has already changed the nomenclature of the course to B.Sc. from June 2023 to avoid any similar issues in the future.

Professor Madhushree Sekher, dean, School of Vocation Education, TISS, said, “The degree B.Voc. is considerably new and thus not included in the list of approved courses by the paramedical council. However, some states, for example, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, have recognised it. We are in talks with the Maharashtra Paramedical Council now to resolve the issue. Realising the problem, we have already changed the nomenclature of the course, after the University Grants Commission (UGC) permitted universities to do so.”