The Quality Council of India today launched a scheme to assess the quality of training given to students at vocational institutes through accredited bodies. These skill assessment bodies (SABs) would certify the skill level of pass-outs from over 12,000 industrial and vocational training institutes in the country and help raise their employability potential,Director-General for Labour and Employment Sharda Prasad said on the sidelines of the launch for the scheme. QCI is an autonomous organisation set up jointly by the Centre and Indian industry represented by ASSOCHAM,CII and FICCI. Prasad said,"We have received 131 applications from SABs for accreditation. Besides,we have empanelled 22 such bodies for the purpose,which are going through the accreditation process." The accreditation programme is a part of the Skill Development Initiative Scheme of the Labour and Employment Ministry. The private skill development bodies would be responsible for assessing the skills of persons trained under the modular employable skills courses approved by the National Council of Vocational Training. At present,there are over 12,000 Industrial Training Institutes,Vocational Training Providers and Industrial Training Centres in the country,whose students need an independent assessment of skill after successfully completing the courses. According to estimates,about one million persons would have their existing skills tested and certified over a period of five years.
