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What is Twin e-learning?
Twin e-learning refers to learning in computer as well as English language.
For whom?
Urban poor- adolescent youths from under-privileged society- having passed higher secondary level but finding no job. Preference may be given to adolescents having successfully completed course in Secretarial practices, Basic Computer or similar trade from ITIs or other recognized institutions but unemployed.
The employment scenario?
For a country of 100 million, generating employment is a big challenge. India is confronted with significant unemployment rate despite high rate of economic growth since 1990s with globalization and opening of the economy. Under-employment is also a concern. Employment growth lags behind actual growth in labor force. Employment in agriculture has fallen significantly. Consequently, rural-urban migration everywhere continues unabatedly.
Globalization and opening of the economy have not been of much help. The total direct employment generated by multi-nationals in India is mere 18.8 million. India’s labour force is growing at the rate of 2.5 per cent annually, but employment is growing at the rate of 2.3 per cent annually. The estimated unemployment rate based on the current daily status basis has Increased from 8.87 percent of labour force in 2001-02 to 9.11 percent in 2004-05.*
Approximately 1/5th (about 22 per cent) of country’s population is adolescents (11-19) and constitutes a significant part of labor force. Youths having passed class X or XII High School Examination fall under adolescent age group.
Though many of them (including girls) remain keen to pursue further studies to equip them with tools to succeed in life and society, they remain constrained and find themselves unable to proceed further with their dreams and desires for many reasons- primarily socio-economic conditions, fewer opportunities with ever increasing competitions and cost of accessing such opportunities.
Young women remain constrained due to socio-cultural norms, early marriage and child bearing. Adolescents having studied up to High School/ Higher secondary level find them selves without skills connecting to employment as required in job market. At the same time many among such adolescents may not like to take –up a casual daily wage laborer’s jobs or be happy about such prospects.
Thus there is resultant ever increasing and huge unemployment and under-employment in the country. Such phenomenon is not only a cause of social stress and turmoil in the society but also upsetting for national growth and economy.
It also acts as big impediment to literacy drive particularly among children who are first-generation learners as their parents/ guardians, more often than not, have not come to see or know of rich dividends accrued to those having gone to schools and colleges.
Mismatch between demand and supply
Service sector is growing very rapidly-particularly IT, Banking, Construction, Finance, Telecom etc. However, even in these sectors where job growth is considerable and is increasing fast, there is mismatch between employer’s need (market demand) and educational/ vocational skills possessed by job seekers.
The pragmatic approach
While there are (will be) many job opportunities for such young people in the future, most of these (will) demand a quality secondary education and good technical skills.
Training in marketable skills, subsequent to basic education in general stream therefore, appears to be the only pragmatic approach for ensuring employment to under-privileged adolescent children who can (could) not afford to go further and undertake higher, more relevant studies or acquire skills in sophisticated modern technology.
The employment opportunities, felt need for skills in service sectors and the constraints
The Opportunities
The projection made by National Association for Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) in Asia Times Online estimates that India's IT and BPO workforce will increase from about 700,000 to 2.3 million by 2010.
Also Indian Retail sector- driven by BPO boom- is expected to face similar boom with increasing demand for e-skills - its total Retail Market size is estimated to be Rs. 10.25 Lac Crore by 2010. Organized retail is currently happening in the 6 metros of India and they account for 66% of organized retail. Medium and small size cities/towns are now on verge of getting invaded by retail sectors.
Indian retail is being globally acclaimed as a “sunrise industry”. It is rated as the second most attractive retail destination among emerging markets after China. The greatest organized retail growth opportunities by size of segment are in food and beverage. It is expected to be the core of the retail venture.
The core products will be in the FMCG followed by Leisure and Personal Goods, Health and Beauty, Clothing and Footwear, Home Furniture and Household Goods, OTC drugs and Health supplements.
The workforce status, the skill constraints
However, the Asia Times Online also quotes - “Most importantly for the BPO sector, India also confronts a potential shortage of skilled workers in the next decade, despite India having an adequate talent pool, or "raw material" as stated by McKinsey. "Yet the problem is that this talent pool is largely unsuitable," it is further stated.
Youth Workforce Development Assessment study done in selected areas of India (NCR region included) in December 2005 by the Asia and Near East (ANE) Bureau of USAID, Washington revealed that virtually all employers, contacted by ANE Bureau Assessment Team, suggested that they were constrained by an inadequately prepared labor force.
Service sector employers have been univocal in that they could not find enough candidates with usable English knowledge (command), adequate computer skills or good communication skills. Many employers had to recruit staff with higher degrees than the job seemed to require but still not satisfied.
* Article in Sahara Times dated 7 January, 2006
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