India’s skill education divide: Which states are leading in school-based vocational learning?

The recently released PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 report has exposed significant regional disparities in how Indian states are integrating vocational education into the school curriculum.

While some states are making headway in offering skill-based courses at the secondary level, others continue to lag in both access and student participation.Conducted under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework, the survey assessed learning outcomes in over 75,000 schools and more than 22 lakh students in Grades 3, 6, and 9. Beyond academics, it also evaluated how well schools are aligning with NEP’s target of providing vocational exposure to at least 50% of learners by 2025.The results show that the target remains a long shot for many states.

Strong infrastructure, low uptake

Gujarat topped the list in terms of school-level implementation, with 57% of secondary schools offering vocational courses for Grade 9 and above. Punjab and Odisha followed with 54% and 50% respectively. However, the data reveals a critical mismatch: many states have built capacity but are failing to get students to enrol.Bihar, for instance, has 44% of its schools offering skill-based courses, but only 21% of students in Grade 9 are actually enrolled.

Odisha shows a similar trend, with just 21% student participation despite half of its schools providing these courses.

Where demand outpaces supply

Some regions are seeing strong student demand despite limited infrastructure. In Delhi, only 42% of schools offer skill education, yet 54% of Grade 9 students are enrolled. Chandigarh has the most striking contrast, with just 40% of schools offering courses and a staggering 65% student participation rate — the highest in the country.This pattern suggests that with proper awareness and quality course offerings, student interest in skill education can grow, even in states with fewer institutional resources.

Key numbers from the report

As per the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 report, the skill-based learning scenario in the country looks like this:

Kerala stands out as a state where fewer schools offer vocational education (34%), yet student participation is relatively high at 36%, reflecting effective outreach and engagement strategies.

The road ahead

The report makes it clear that while infrastructure has improved in several states, translating that into meaningful participation requires more than policy compliance. States need to invest in awareness campaigns, industry-relevant courses, and qualified trainers to make vocational education aspirational.With the next edition of PARAKH already being planned, education experts say bridging the gap between provision and participation will be critical. The NEP’s vision of a skilled, future-ready student population can only be realised if every state commits not just to offering skill education, but also to making it count.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.