Odisha Upskills Plus II Students with New Healthcare and Apparel Vocational Programs

In a significant move to boost youth employability, the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha, has approved two brand-new vocational courses: Healthcare and Apparels, for Class XI and XII (Plus II) students. Starting from the 2026-27 academic session, these additions under the Integrated Vocational Stream will train students for specific job roles like General Duty Assistant Trainee and Assistant Fashion Designer, directly addressing industry needs. This decision, taken by the CHSE Academic Committee following a proposal from the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA), aligns perfectly with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision of integrating vocational learning into mainstream education. Odisha has been a frontrunner in expanding skill-based training, recently removing stream-based restrictions for vocational students to offer greater flexibility in subject selection. To ensure quality and standardization, the CHSE will adopt the syllabus and learning materials developed by the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE) under the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). These new job-oriented courses are expected to significantly enhance students' career prospects and contribute to building a skilled workforce in the state.