Bhubaneswar, Dec 6 (IANS): AISECT has partnered with the Odisha government for providing skill development training in government-run secondary and higher secondary schools.

It has partnered with the government for implementation of a centrally sponsored programme of 'Vocationalisation of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education' under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) in 44 schools across Odisha, said the statement on Wednesday.

AISECT will provide vocational training sessions in IT-IteS and retail sectors in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Khorda and Cuttack.

In last financial year, it had partnered with Odisha Madhyamik Shiksha Mision and imparted vocational training to 2,768 candidates under IT-ITeS trade in 42 schools and under retail trade in 20 schools of the state.

NSQF is a centrally sponsored scheme that aims at vocationalisation of secondary and higher education by linking employability education with school education.

Along with regular training sessions, AISECT will also provide field and industry visits, best-in-class exposure and reputed trainers to all its units under the partnership. A total of 1,800 candidates are expected to benefit from these skill development training, the statment added.

Siddharth Chaturvedi, director of AISECT, said, "Skills have become the backbone of job markets. Despite a huge demand in the industry for skilled workforce, we don't have sufficient numbers to fill in these vacancies. We welcome Odisha government's initiative with NSQF, and as a social enterprise, are extremely happy to be associated with it."