A student who has completed a certificate programme from an Industrial Training Institute should be able to earn a Class XII certificate by doing a single language paper from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), a new credit policy has proposed.

A student can enrol in an ITI after passing Class X and do a two-year course in a vocational subject such as welding, motor repairs or electrical work. Under the draft National Credit Framework (NCrF), submitted to the Centre by a committee in September, the student can then clear a language paper of their choice from the NIOS to secure a Class XII certificate.

This will make the student eligible for undergraduate admission, presumably to a vocational or humanities course.

An expert in skill education who did no twish to be quoted said ITI pass outs should be straightaway given the Class XII certificate. He questioned the requirement of learning a language paper.

“In competitive examinations for jobs, the language competence expected from candidates is of Class X level. The requirement of passing a (higher secondary level) language paper for ITI passouts is unnecessary. It should be dropped,” he said.

The committee that prepared the NCrF was headed by N.S. Kalsi, chairperson of the National Council for Vocational Education and Training. It included members from the Union skill development ministry, All India Council for Technical Education, Central Board of Secondary Education, NIOS and the University Grants Commission.