Employment Readiness Program

Dear Well Wishers

Greetings from Vidya Poshak, please find the highlights for last two months of Skill training activities

1. In the Quarter of June-August -2016 we conducted 2 training programs for Degree 1^st year students and for SSLC students
2. In both trainings we mainly focused on the conversational English and career guidance ,for SSLC students we did motivation,Communication,career guidance along with Conversational English.
3. Totally 120 students were attended the training programs

Background of Vidya Poshak Training Activities

Vidya Poshak is an education-focused NGO operating throughout Karnataka and some parts of Maharashtra that since 2001 has aided meritorious students from economically disadvantaged families. VP helps students continue their education past 10^th standard by providing financial assistance with college and exam fees, as well as access to books and need based training and coaching.

Though VP began by providing needy students with the resources needed to successfully complete their degrees, VP’s team of staff and volunteers were also aware of the challenges facing student after graduation or those who drop out of higher education.

The environment where these rural students were born and brought up is not making them confident to face the tough job requirements or the hardships in life. The education that many students receive focuses on memorization of facts rather than critical thinking or analytical skills.

Students, particularly those from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds don’t have access to internet and computers. Many students lack the confidence and communication skills to succeed at interviews, much less the career guidance to know where to search for jobs and how to apply. In short, there is a wide gap between the education that students receive and the needs and expectations of industry, resulting in a decreased number of employable candidates.

There are two possible ways to tackle this problem. One is to reform the education system. However, this is a vast challenge that will have to be taken up by both the government and private educational institutions. While waiting and advocating for these changes to happen, civil society institutions can develop a model addressing the gap between skills given by formal education and industry expectations.

Since inception Vidya Poshak has been actively involved in initiating a number of training activities in the region. Thousands of training programs have been organized across entire North Karnataka, reaching thousands of needy students and teachers as well. An average of ten thousand students and one thousand teachers are targeted every year.