Skill Development of Naval Personnel: Brochure

Directorate of Ex Servicemen Affairs

SKILL CERTIFICATION

1. India  Navy  imparts  a  high  standard  of  training   to   its   personnel.   At   the   time   of retirement  most  sailors  have  completed  over 1  ½  years  of  formal professional  training  and have   15   years   or   more   of   professional experience.

2. However, these skills are not recognised by organisations outside the Navy. This   results   in  naval veterans   taking   up employment  not  matching  their  skill  sets  and pursuing  jobs that  require starting  from  basic level. 

3. In order to meet the demand for skilled workforce  the  GoI  has  launched  ‘Skill  India Mission’ with  an  aim to  produce  a  40  crore skilled  workforce  by  2018.  As  a  part  of  the mission   the GoI   has   also   instituted   the ‘National    Skills    Qualification    Framework’ (NSQF).  The  NSQF is a competency based framework formulated by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship   which defines the level of knowledge, skill and aptitude to carry out a particular job.  From 2018 onwards the recruitment rules of GoI and PSUs of central government shall be amended to  define  eligibility  criteria  for  all  positions  in terms of NSQF

4. To safeguard the   interests   of   our retiring personnel, a MoU  has  been  signed between Ministry  of  Defence  and  Ministry  of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in Jun 15  to  facilitate  skill  certification  and  augment employment opportunities for ESMs. 

5. Implementation   of   the   scheme   from MSDE  has  been  apportioned  to  National  Skill Development  Council.  NSDC  has  prepared  a council of all the stakeholders in skilling. These councils  are  divided  in  accordance  to  the industry  that  they  represent  and  are  called ‘Sector  Skill  Council’.   Each   council   has representation from the following:-

(a) Industry Associations.

(b) Training Providers.

(c) Ministry  of  Medium  Small  and Micro Enterprise.  

(d) NSDC nominee

(e) Business  Leaders  and  Industry Reps.

(f) Government representation. 

6. Each SSC then describes the job roles in their respective sector and drafts out in detail the   requirements   that   are   to   be   met   to undertake  any  job  in  that  sector.  The  training partners  thereafter, impart this  training  and qualify candidates for the performance of  such duties.  Due  to  the  experience  and competency  that  has  been  gained  by  retiring naval sailors at the time of their retirement they are  ideally  suited  for  carrying out  training  on these   professional   skills   or   assessing   the training carried out by others.

7. Recognition  of  Prior  Learning.  The GoI,  NSDC  and  SSC  recognise  the  training which has been imparted by the Navy as well as  the  professional  acumen  which  the  sailor has gained during his naval career. Giving due regard  to  this  a  naval  sailor  does  not  have  to undergo   the   complete   training    which   is required for certification and is only trained on those aspects which may be in addition to the training    imparted  in  the  Navy.    This  is  called ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’.

8. Skill Mapping.

Skill   mapping   of retiring personnel is to identify the skills learnt by  a  naval  personnel  during  his  career  and equate  it to jobs  he  is  equipped  to  perform  in the civil industry. A major exercise was carried out in the month of May 16 in which all training schools  in  the Navy  compared  the  curriculum of  the  courses  run  by  them  to  the  National Occupation Standard or the job profiles which are  available  in  the  industry.  A  total  of  159 courses were mapped to 258 jobs. The gap in training   for   each   course   has   also   been identified.

9. Skill Training. It  is  intended  to carry out the ‘gap training’ at parent school of the  retiring  sailor.  As  the  retiring  sailors  are ideally suited for carrying out training as well as assessment,  it  is  planned  to  give  additional training to them for carrying out these job roles also.   Pilot   batch skill   training   has   been conducted   in   the   months   of   Aug/Sep   16. Lessons  learnt  from  this  experience  would form the basis of formulation of ‘way ahead’ for pan -Navy application.

10. Skill Certification.

On successful completion of this gap training the sailor would get  a  certificate  from  the  Ministry of  Skill Development  and  Entrepreneurship.  As  the standards  which  are  required  to  be  met have been defined by the industry and issued by the Government this certificate would subsequently enhance  the  job  prospects  of retiring sailors.

11. To summarise, ‘Skill Certification’ provides following benefits to naval personnel:-

(a) Enhancement  and  recognition  of skills learnt in Navy

(b) Certification    standards    defined    by industry 

(c) Certificate issued by Govt of India

(d) Directly  leads  to  employment  both  in govt / private jobs as well as self -employment as Trainer / Assessor (e) Can lead to international job opportunities

(f) No  expenditure  by individual  (met  by  government)