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Kitco to certify technical skills

KOCHI: The Union Labour Ministry has appointed the Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (Kitco), promoted by the State government, financial institutions and banks, as the assessing body under the Skill Development Initiative Scheme.

Kitco is now entrusted with the responsibility to hold tests of skills and recommend issue of certificate to candidates in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep under the Skill Development Scheme, based on Modular Employable Skills (MES), said Biju John, Executive Director of the Consultancy here at a press conference on Thursday.

He said that Kitco was among the 10 institutions selected across India under the scheme to train people, then test and certify their skills to increase their employability, productivity and to meet workforce requirement.

The Skill Development Initiative Scheme envisages vocational training to workers, ITI graduates etc. and to test and certify their skills. Existing skills of persons can also be tested and certified under the scheme.

According to the Kitco official, only a very small portion of the skilled workforce in India had certificates that testified to their abilities. With the new facility, workers can get their skills certified, making them ready to face competition in the job market.

Even job visas will be easier with a certificate that attests to the skills of an electrician, chef, printer, beautician, toy-maker or a garment-maker.

The Skill Development Initiative has identified 270 courses in 27 sectors that can come in for certification. The lower age limit is 14 years and there is no upper age limit for appearing in the examinations.

Suresh Jacob, Project Manager at Kitco Placement Park, said that testing of skills began late last month. As part of implementing the scheme, authorised test centres and laboratories will be identified for conducting practical tests.

A theory test as well as viva-voce will be part of the tests to assess the knowledge of the candidate in the relevant field. Successful candidates will receive National Council for Vocational Training Certificate, he added.

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