• A Centrally-sponsored scheme to promote vocational education among secondary and higher secondary education, introduced five years ago in the State, has yet to gain traction. Students and teachers say that in order for the programme to get impetus, there is a need to strengthen the overall ecosystem of skill-based education.
• This academic year, only 3,652 students across Karnataka will be writing the SSLC examination under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). 
• Among the vocations offered, Information Technology has the maximum number of takers with 1,474 students. The least preference is for retail. This is the fifth academic year that this programme has been running in Karnataka in 150 schools.
• While Karnataka’s Department of Primary and Secondary Education wanted to roll out the programme in 100 new schools for the 2018-2019 academic year, the Union government gave permission for it to be implemented in only 50.

Students with vocational education writing the SSLC examination this year

• Automotive: 1,036

• Beauty and wellness: 310

• Healthcare: 675

• IT: 1474

• Retail: 157

• Total: 3,652