SHREYAS(Scheme for Higher Education Youth for Apprenticeship and Skills), was launched by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry in collaboration with the National Skill Ministry and Labour and employment Ministry, after launching schemes and initiatives for skilled students in technical courses.
The website, shreyas.ac.in, is operational, functional and is ready to invite applications from students from non-technical courses such as B.A, B.Sc. B.Com. etc. Students and alumni can register themselves at the portal that will connect them with apprenticeship programmes and recruiters.
Taking the floor to the students, HRD Minister, Prakash Javadekar, claimed, “The purpose of education is not just to bring out a good human from the system but to bring out a good human with skills.” Marking the appropriate example, Javadekar also said that as a student, he worked in an office during summer breaks that developed and prepared him really well for the bank job that he further followed in future. The portal is also aiming to hand over internships to students who are pursuing general courses, connecting recruiters and graduates.
Furthermore, the ministry also plans to alter the curriculum of general courses and formulate them to more employment-friendly ideology. Javadekar also informed, 1000 hours coursework will be added to BA, BCom and BSc programmes; out of which 250 hours each would be given to soft and ICT skilling and the rest 500 hours would be implemented to specific skill courses. Therfore, the courses would be known as BA professional, BCom professional and BSc professional programme.
The upcoming three courses are conceptualized to soon launch from the nearing academic year 2019-20 onwards, where the ministry is also aiming to magnify the other graduate and postgraduate level programmes under the scope. Javadekar also stated that the ministry is looking forward to have 2 to 2.5 lakh students receiving and achieving apprenticeship certificates within three months.
Secretary HRD, Subramanyam said that the government has sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore sanction for this programme, while addressing his speech. Also, the central government would give ‘some’ funds to the industry to train students, according to Javadekar but the details are not yet revealed regarding this agenda and participation.