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In a significant move aimed at providing employment opportunities for approximately 400,000 youths, the Maharashtra state government on Friday announced an allocation of ₹76 crore to train an initial group of 10,000 youngsters for jobs in Baden-Wurttemberg, a state in southwest Germany.
This initiative is part of a broader plan following a labor migration and skill development agreement signed between Maharashtra and Baden-Wurttemberg in May 2023.
Investment in German Language Education
To support this endeavor, the government will also invest around ₹36 crore to establish approximately 200 classrooms across Maharashtra. These classrooms will be dedicated to ensuring that students can complete the four levels of German language learning: A1, A2, B1, and B2.
Vocational Training and Employment Sectors
The allocated funds will be directed towards organizations that provide vocational education to candidates from across the state. The trained youths will be eligible to work in various sectors including healthcare and hospitality.
The aspirants will receive German language lessons in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, a non-profit organization founded by the German government.
Government Resolution and Implementation Plan
On Thursday, the state issued a government resolution (GR) outlining the operational plan for the project. The State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has been tasked with signing an agreement with the Goethe Institute to conduct German language classes at each district headquarters.
Addressing Vocational Education Standards
A key aspect of the project is to address the differences in vocational education standards between Germany and Maharashtra. Skilling organizations involved in the project will receive payments of ₹7,000 per student in rural areas and ₹10,000 per student in urban areas.
Targeted Specializations
According to the GR, the state government is focusing on training specialized personnel such as nurses, lab assistants, radiology assistants, dental assistants, accountants, cooks, hotel managers, electricians, heating technicians, plumbers, mechanics, and various other skilled roles.
Committees for Scheme Implementation
To streamline the implementation of this scheme, the government has appointed an eight-member district-level committee chaired by the principal of the district education and training institute, and an eight-member state-level committee chaired by the education minister.
Additionally, a technical committee has been appointed to oversee the training, including commissioners from the departments of medical education, transport, labor and skill development, and technical education.
