KOCHI:
ESPOIR, an initiative of Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE) tasked with skilling the young workforce of the state for employment in India and abroad, has so far sent more than 380 people to several countries in the Gulf and Africa like the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Nigeria and Zambia with suitable jobs.
ESPOIR, which ranks among the best 15 India International Skill Centres (IISCs) in the country equips and sends around 15-20 people abroad every month with employment, especially in the field of oil and gas industry.
“But the number could have been more as preference for Keralites and opportunities are huge in these countries,” said Austin E A, DGM, Operations, ESPOIR. “For various positive reasons, there’s a huge demand for people to work in the technical fields in African and Gulf countries. Unfortunately, there’s a dearth of students and that’s the biggest hurdle. If some are still entangled in the myth of ‘white collar’ job, others are not even aware that such opportunities and courses to equip them do exist in the state,” he pointed out.
Elaborating, he said, “We are yet to value the significance of skills. If we say, a welder can earn Rs 5 to 10 lakh per month in other countries, nobody would believe. But that’s the truth. We also provide the best industrial training in Kerala with international equipments and standards along with expert faculties.”
ESPOIR, which has set up a stall at the three-day ‘India Skills Kerala 2018’ organized by KASE and Industrial Training Department that began here today, has been developed and operated by Eram group, and it largely concentrates on equipping the youth with skills required in the oil and gas industry. It provides training for polytechnic staff through State Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (SITTTR) and ITI staff through Skill Updating Institute for Industrial Training (SUIT).
A market research has revealed that the youth in Kerala are lagging behind in four aspects – technical skills, safety and security, communication skills and confidence.
“Safety while working has never been taken into account in Kerala. But that’s the highest priority in these countries. If their skills are updated, coupled with confidence and presentation skills, they will do wonders,” said Poulose Theppala, Director, ESPOIR.
Though the courses are mostly short term, ESPOIR finds it difficult to get adequate number of students for the same. Lack of the awareness regarding the courses has been a big hurdle and now it is giving special attention to straighten out this situation.
Till date, ESPOIR has trained 430 trainees in various trades under KASE programme. Around 380 trainees are placed in countries like the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Nigeria, Algeria and Saudi Arabia through campus placements while some trainees are working in India or are self- employed.
The skill development centre has been certified by four sector-specific skill councils like CGSC, IIISC and IASC, besides councils in the construction sector. It has also been given four star rating by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC ).
KASE is also offering its courses free of charge to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students.
