The thrust of education should be academic and vocational training alongside skill development which helps in future employment, according to German Ambassador Martin Ney.

In his address during the 11th convocation programme of Gedee Technical Training Institute (GTTI), Ney said small and medium size companies were the backbone of Indian economy. They provide most of the employment to youths. “The clusters, not only for big companies and also for the small ones in India are role models to Germans,” he added.

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Secretary KP Krishnan said only 1.6 million people per annum were graduating from the vocational courses in the country. After formation of the ministry in 2014, a lot of effort had been taken to improve the quality and employability of youths through vocational courses and skill development programmes.

Currently vocational courses may not be aspirational, but without them there would be no quality and no employability, he added. Like attending convocation functions in IITs and other engineering colleges, ministers should also go to the convocation functions of the vocational training centres, he said.

GTTI Director GD Rajkumar said engineers would learn only if they decided to opt for a vocational course. The memorandum of understanding with Deutscher Industrie-und Handelskammertag, Germany, would be renewed. The German organization is a platform and certifier for VET activities across the globe.

As many as 58 students got their course completion certificate in German diploma for mechatronics and tool and die-making courses.