Assam government partners with Tata-Nelco to transform skill education with hub and spoke model

Guwahati: In a step towards revolutionising skill education in Assam, state govt, in collaboration with Tata-Nelco, is set to implement the Hub and Spoke Model in govt schools of Assam.The collaboration was initiated through an MoU signed on Feb 26 between the department of school education, govt of Assam, and Nelco Limited (TATA-NELCO). Following this, Samagra Shiksha Axom, representing the department of school education, entered into a memorandum of agreement with Tata-Nelco on Thursday to implement the model in a phased manner.This initiative aims to enhance vocational and skill training by establishing interconnected networks of Hub and Spoke schools, utilising satellite-based technology for expert course delivery.Each Hub school will offer ten skill sectors, while each Spoke school will focus on two. The interconnected system will ensure that all schools have access to high-quality instruction, facilitated by two expert trainers at each location. This approach is designed to provide students with industry-relevant skills, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.The funding for this initiative will be shared, with TATA-NELCO contributing 75% and the Government of Assam and Samagra Shiksha covering the remaining 25%.

In the first phase, 10 Hub Schools and 70 Spoke Schools will be set up to introduce skill courses for students in Classes IX to XII. The second phase will expand this network to 40 Hub Schools and 430 Spoke Schools.Education Minister Ranoj Pegu highlighted that this initiative is a result of the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit held early this year, aimed at equipping the youth with skills that open up employment opportunities within the state. Officials said that the ten skill sectors identified by TATA-NELCO are carefully chosen to match current and emerging job market trends, ensuring students are prepared for the workforce with relevant competencies.