The Uttar Pradesh government recently announced ‘Project Praveen’, aiming to provide skill training to over 61,000 boys and girls nationwide. This initiative offers free skill training and modern courses to prepare students for a competitive job market. According to an official release, ‘Project Praveen’ is aimed at students in grades 9 through 12 who attend the state’s higher secondary institutions.
It is worth noting that ‘Project Praveen’ is being operated under an MOU between Secondary Education and the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission. The main aim of this project is to improve the state’s education system and curriculum. Kapil Dev Aggarwal, State Minister of State for Vocational Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge), stated that Project Praveen was launched as a pilot programme in the fiscal year 2022-23.
For the financial year 2023-24, ‘Project Praveen’ has been broadened to include 315 government secondary schools, providing skill development training to 61,400 students. Students in grades 9-12 receive daily free training in addition to their regular academics, focusing on trades relevant to their interests, such as IT, electronics, beauty, healthcare, apparel, and accounting.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training has officially certified and authorized all courses. Students obtain nationally recognized certifications after completing coursework and assessments. Students in ‘Project Praveen receive training from recognized private training centres within their schools. These trainers are certified under the Training of Teachers (TOT) program and registered with the Skill Development Mission.
The statement further added that certificates received through ‘Project Praveen’ training enable students who discontinue their studies after completing either 10th or 12th grade to pursue job opportunities. However, eligibility for the scheme requires enrollment in government secondary schools and completion of either 10th or 12th grade.
