Bangalore:The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) would start vocational courses in information technology, fashion design, manufacturing technology, general healthcare and retail management at Plus-2 level with industry support, its Chairman Ashok Ganguly said today.

CBSE with the support of the National Stock Exchange, has already introduced a course on financial market management in 90 CBSE schools, Ganguly told reporters here.

He said CBSE is in discussion with NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) to launch a course on fashion designing and garment manufacturing technology, with NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies) for IT vocational package course.

CBSE, Ganguly said, would also introduce courses on general healthcare, retail management and other areas. In all these competency-based vocational courses, CBSE would formulate the curriculum in association with industry, and certification for students would be given jointly by the CBSE and a mentor organisation.

"Our students need 21st century skills", he said, adding, students have to be transformed from "stereotypes" in the new world order. According to him, CBSE is evolving skill-based subjects for plus-2 level, including in areas such as film and media studies, heritage craft and gender studies.

"We have also started a thinking process on how to include nano technology in school curriculum", Ganguly said, adding, CBSE is debating as to whether nano technology should be introduced as a separate subject or integrated into science subjects.

Source : PTI