Most school-leavers aim for higher education so that they are in a better position to find jobs of their choice. The traditional three or four-year, college-degree course is the typical choice after 10 plus two. But, at the end of it, as Anuradha and Mohit found out they hadn’t really developed skills for any specific kind of work. Kruttika, on the other hand, pursued vocational education right after school and she found that it helped her to develop skills for direct employment.

She is now using her beautician and hair dressing training in a full-time job at a prominent beauty salon. She plans to work there for some years. Eventually, her aim is to be self-employed. Even, the Mudalliar Commission (1952) emphasised that at the end of secondary education, a student should be in a position to enter into the responsibility of life and take up some vocation.

Recently, the Union government too has announced the relaxation of the emigration check clause for those who are going abroad. This includes those who have 10 plus two qualification and those who possess two-year diploma certificates from institutes recognised by the National Council for Vocational Training or its counterpart in the states.