A five-day intensive skill development training programme kicked off today for Class XII students and vocational lecturers of Government Vocational Higher Secondary Schools.
Organised by the School and Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha, the programme is being hosted at two premier technical institutions: the Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC) and the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM).
Running from October 12 to 16, 2026, the programme brings together more than 170 participants from across 14 districts. Students and lecturers are receiving specialised, hands-on training across four high-demand trades: Audio-Visual Training (AVT), Drone Pilot (DP), and Catering and Restaurant Management.
Bridging Education and Employment
Addressing the inaugural ceremony at CTTC, Smt. Binita Senapati, Additional Director of the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, lauded the state government’s relentless efforts to fortify vocational pathways. She emphasised that practical training is vital for transforming students into confident professionals ready for the modern job market.
“Vocational education equips our students with invaluable practical competencies, significantly improving their employment prospects,” Smt. Senapati noted. “Initiatives like these ensure that youth develop specialised, job-ready skills even before completing their higher secondary education.”
Shri Jitendra Nayak, Deputy Director of the Directorate, praised the seamless collaboration between the government and premier institutions like CTTC and IHM, stressing the importance of scaling up active student participation in specialised technical modules.
Meanwhile, Shri K. M. Rajan, Senior Manager (Training) at CTTC, commended the palpable enthusiasm among the attendees and reiterated the institution’s commitment to supporting Odisha’s vision of building a robust, highly skilled workforce.
Statewide Participation
The collaborative training rollout has drawn participants from a wide geographic footprint:
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At CTTC: Students and faculty from nine districts—Angul, Deogarh, Jajpur, Cuttack, Baleshwar, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapada, and Puri—are undergoing technical instruction.
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At IHM: Participants from Bhadrak, Koraput, Kandhamala, Khordha, and Ganjam are focusing on hospitality and catering management.
The inaugural event at IHM was graced by Shri Pranab Prakash, Regional Director (Eastern Region); Smt. Sharada Ghosh, Principal; along with Shri Jitendra Nayak and Smt. Smitarekha Mohanty from the Directorate.
As the five-day programme progresses, participants are expected to master advanced technical methodologies, gaining a competitive edge as they transition from classrooms to high-growth industrial sectors.
