Monday 13 February 2012 Government 2.0: The Road Ahead
Punjab starts job-oriented course for youth

The Punjab government has launched the Punjab Skill Training for Employment Potential (P-STEP) programme in 25 government colleges in the state.

Chandigarh, August 17: To make the youth of the state employable and competitive to face the challenges posed by the ever-changing job market, the Punjab government has launched the Punjab Skill Training for Employment Potential (P-STEP) programme in 25 government colleges in the state.


The programme, which is meant for the final year students, has been specially designed to train students in computers, communication skills, personality development, etc. and would be implemented in all colleges by the Department of Higher Education in collaboration with Punjab Infotech.


“P-STEP has been launched initially in 25 government colleges across Punjab where the computer labs are ready and functioning. Later, it would be replicated in the rest of the 30 colleges,” said Punjab Infotech, Managing Director, Rakesh Verma.


“The programme is aimed at not merely training students in software skills but also at imparting skills that increase the scope of employment for these students, especially in the service industry,” added Verma.


Punjab Infotech has engaged three private companies working in this field to implement the programme. “After going through the profiles of various companies and following the process, we have shortlisted Hero Mindmine, IndiaCan, and IL&FS Education to impart training to the youth,” informed Verma.


All the government colleges have been divided among these three companies. These companies will employ their own staff and start running the course from the colleges where the infrastructure is readily available.


In 2006, the government had launched a similar programme P-TOSS (Punjab Training on Soft Skills) for the students of government colleges, run by the Department of Higher Education.


Though the programme registered a great success, it had to be suspended as students found it too expensive to opt for.
“The new course is better than the last one and we are sure students are going to find it more advanced, beneficial and moreover affordable, Verma concluded.

Good initiative but need to add a couple of more elements

They should add modules of entrepreneurship and project management in the above curriculum.

Given the uncertainty that faces the youth today in this situation of economic instability why limit the students only to search and look for jobs. My belief is that our youth is bright and innovative and would surely be raring to try out some innovative business.

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