Kumari Selja seeks support from Ministry of Human Resource Development to expand the reach of hospitality Education by Involving the State Education Boards

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Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Tourism                        

Kumari Selja seeks support from Ministry of Human Resource Development to expand the reach of hospitality Education by Involving the State Education Boards

New Delhi: July 20, 2010.

 

The Tourism and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja has said that the contribution of tourism to the country's GDP was 5.92% and contribution to employment (both direct and indirect) was 9.24% for the year 2007–08. She was speaking at a function organized for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in New Delhi today. She said, a robust economy has a cascading effect on tourism as well. Conversely, tourism is an important driver in the growth of economy especially in the area of employment generation. The indirect impact of tourism on economy is much larger.

The Minister said, to translate the opportunity accorded to us by the cascading effect of a robust economy into tangible gains, the Tourism Industry needs to be in a state of readiness. She said, as per a survey conducted in the year 2004, the Industry requires about two lakh-trained persons annually. As against this, the supply is only 18000 persons, which effectively came to only 12000 persons after reckoning the attrition. She said, this huge skill gap in the Industry is cause of serious concern and the Government has to find means to negotiate huge skill gap which is affecting the hospitality sector.

Kumari Selja said, her Ministry has constantly endeavoured with multi-pronged strategy to bridge this skill gap. The approach comprises strengthening of institutional infrastructure for training, special programmes and schemes to enable and up-skill the existing service providers, standardization and certification of services and broad basing of hospitality education.

She said, it is in this larger context that the Memorandum of Understanding between the NCHMCT and CBSE becomes immensely important. It is expected that by the year 2022, we will have about 5 million educated persons with tourism specific skills. This number will constitute direct employment in the Industry. The MoU, therefore, is an instrument that will significantly contribute to the realization of inclusive growth.

The Minister said, currently there are 33 Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs) and 5 Food Craft Institutes (FCIs) sponsored by the Union Ministry of Tourism. The Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM) at Gwalior and its centres at Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Goa and Nellore imparts MBA level education specific to tourism. She said, her Ministry has sanctioned 12 new State IHMs and 11 new FCIs. In the remaining period of 11th Plan, we intend to sanction 5 more State IHMs and 14 FCIs. These institutes will have a collective capacity to train over 27000 persons annually.

Kumari Selja said, Union Ministry of Tourism has launched a flagship programme for young citizens under the 'Hunar Se Rozgar' Scheme. The programme with a pro-poor focus envisages engaging young persons constructively by giving them employable skills. The scheme offers 6 to 8 weeks training in Food & Beverages Services and Culinary Skills. The trainees are also paid a stipend of Rs.1500/- and Rs.2000/- in addition to a set of elegantly designed uniforms. This programme, launched in August 2009, has already trained over 5500 persons by 31st March 2010.

She said, buoyed by the exuberant response, Hunar Se Rozgar programme has now been extended through the State Governments. State Governments can empanel Institutes, both Government and Private, having necessary infrastructure and facilities, as the implementing agencies. She said, the Union Government has also encouraged Industry stakeholders to conduct this programme through their own resources. She said, she would also like to expand the reach of hospitality education by involving the State Education Boards, and sought the active support of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development in this regard.

Kumari Selja said, large numbers of unskilled and semi-skilled persons join the Industry. Obviously, such an influx in the Industry is demand–driven. It is in recognition of this fact that her Ministry has launched another significant programme for imparting on the job training and certifying them through a system of IHMs. It aims to formally hone the skills of such people through hands on training. She said, this not only aids in their career progression, but also helps the Ministry to recognize these certifications while classifying the hotels. This programme launched concurrently with the Hunar Se Rozgar Scheme has certified skills acquired by over 5000 persons as on 31st March 2010.

The Minister said, the MoU, that was signed between NCHMCT and CBSE, is a modest beginning to an initiative that will eventually grow into a comprehensive strategy for vocational education in the country. Under the MoU 25 chosen schools will impart hospitality education as a full-fledged vocational stream at plus two level.

She said, a lot of thought has gone into the MoU at the highest level in the Ministries of Human Resource Development and Tourism. Like any new venture, this too will need special nurturing. For each school, the NCHMCT has designated an Institute of Hotel Management as a mentor Institute. These Institutes will hand-hold and guide the schools for at least 4-5 years in which time it is envisaged that this new vocational stream will become an acceptable and self–sustaining model. She said, the Council has already designed the course curriculum for the 11th standard and that for the 12th standard will soon be ready.

Kumari Selja said, this synergy does not stop with the signing of the MoU. As a result of the mutual understanding between the two Ministries, the Engineering and Management Institutes, recognized by the AICTE, have also been allowed to start schools devoted to hospitality education at degree level from their respective campuses.

The Minister said, while her Ministry is making efforts to position India as a 365 day destination, and, is undertaking ambitious marketing strategies to attract foreign tourist arrivals and consequently, foreign exchange earnings for the country, there is one serious concern that is bothering her. She said, it is a concern that a large number of you will share with her. The need of the hour is to inculcate among our citizens a sense of pride, respect and responsible ownership towards all our heritage sites and places of tourist interest. Defacement of heritage monuments, piles of garbage and bad civic sense project our country in poor light to all the visiting guests. She said, she feels that it is essential to sensitise the young minds about the importance of maintaining public hygiene and cleanliness, especially at country's heritage sites and places of tourist interest. This sensitization must eventually become attitudinal. And this process, she said, must begin at a very young age as a part of the formal school curriculum. Kumari Selja urged upon the Minister for Human Resource Development to consider incorporating a chapter to this effect in the curriculum for middle school. She said, this will go a long way in shaping our national character as well.

 

ad/db/dk/kol/17:36 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Tourism                        

MoU Signed between National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology (NCHMCT) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Delhi in Offering Hotel Management and Catering Technology Courses for XI and XII Class Students

New Delhi: July 20, 2010.

 

An MoU to offer Hotel Management and Catering Technology courses for XI and XII class students with effect from the academic session 2010-11 in Central Board of Secondary Education schools, was signed between National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology (NCHMCT), New Delhi and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Delhi here today. The CEO, NCHMCT Shri Devesh Chaturvedi and Chairman, CBSE Shri Vineet Joshi signed the MoU. The Union Minister for Tourism Kumari Selja and Human Resource Development Minister Shri Kapil Sibal and his deputy Smt. D. Purandeswari were present on the occasion.

 

Role and Responsibilities of Central Board of Secondary Education in the MoU:

 

The Central Board of Secondary Education agreed as follows:

 

a)            The Central Board of Secondary Education shall ensure that the students shall enrol with the concerned Regional Office of Central Board of Secondary Education in a prescribed proforma, for the tests and shall collect the examination fees as follows:

i)                    For XI and XII class examination fees shall be collected along with the Central Board of Secondary Education examination.

ii)                   There shall be a separate enrolment form and examination fees for class XI and XII.

iii)                 If a student has enrolled and paid the examination fees but is unable to attend the exams for any reason he/she shall be required to fill the enrolment form afresh and pay the fees again.

b)            The Central Board of Secondary Education shall ensure that the Regional Office of Central Board of Secondary Education shall prepare a consolidated list of candidates with respect to Mentor Centres of National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI and remit the examination fee collected along with List of Candidates to National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI for enrolling and conducting of module examination, if any.

c)            The Central Board of Secondary Education shall ensure that the examination in the vocational subjects of Hotel Management and Catering Technology course in XI class shall be conducted by the schools in cooperation and consultation with Central Board of Secondary Education , while the evaluation shall be done by the schools.  The Central Board of Secondary Education shall ensure standardization by providing question papers and examination schedule to the schools, if need arises.

d)            The schools shall continue to issue the mark statement at the level of XI class to the candidates.

e)            For conducting the practical examination in vocational subjects in XII class the Central Board of Secondary Education may take assistance from the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI.

f)             All theory and practical examinations for XII class shall be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education on external basis, in consultation with the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI.

g)            A format of Central Board of Secondary Education  - National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI Joint Certification shall be developed jointly by the Central Board of Secondary Education and the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI. The agreed format between Central Board of Secondary Education and National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI shall be used for reflecting marks/grades as the case may be, obtained by the student in examinations conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education.

h)            The Central Board of Secondary Education shall finalize the matters of Course Design, updation, training of teachers, skill development of students, conducting practical and theory examinations, etc. in consultation with National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI whenever required.

 

Roles and Responsibilities of National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, New Delhi in the MoU:

 

The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI agreed to do the following:

a)      The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI agrees to conduct examination subject to the terms and conditions provided in this MoU and also terms and conditions of the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI.

b)      National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI shall endeavour to set up Mentor Centres wherever possible in the country, in order to facilitate the students to take the examination at these centres and shall also provide guidance to all students registered with the Central Board of Secondary Education and give clarifications to all doubts which students have.

c)       During the first phase, HMCT shall be introduced in selected cities in the schools having sufficient infrastructures and where National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI is in a position to hold examinations. As the course becomes popular and infrastructure in smaller cities improves, HMCT may be extended to smaller cities as well wherein the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI shall be ready to conduct examination and also shall provide the services of mentor institution, wherever possible.

d)      If a student is not able to clear examination then the same shall be cleared through additional attempt(s)

e)      National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI shall provide guidance to the Central Board of Secondary Education in Curriculum Design, session planning and academic scheduling of vocational subjects of HMCT course. The curriculum shall also be updated on yearly basis to reflect the current trend in the industry.

f)       National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI shall guide and assist in content development and book writing for professional subject- Hotel Management and Catering Technology.

g)      National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI shall provide academic support for conducting Orientation Programmes including refresher courses, seminars and workshops to the teachers.

h)      The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI shall not charge any other fee except the examination fees as mentioned in clause 1(a) above. The Central Board of Secondary Education shall not bear any other financial implication/liability on the part of National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI.

i)        The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, NEW DELHI does not undertake to provide any revaluation of the marks obtained in test.

 

ad/db/dk/kol/17:36 hrs.

 

--
Palash Biswas
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