Every year, on July 15, World Youth Skills Day is celebrated. Its sole purpose is to provide essential skills to young people worldwide in order to find employment. Skills play an important role in getting good job opportunities, which is why the day is celebrated. As all nations struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Youth Skills Day 2023 takes place at a time when many still need help with socio-economic development. By training young people, nations can accomplish economic benefits.
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World Youth Skills Day Theme 2024
The United Nations sets a theme for Youth Skills Day every year. The theme of World Youth Skills Day 2024 is “Youth Skills for Peace and Development.”
Teachers and trainers play an important role in equipping youth with skills for today’s changing job market. As technology advances and jobs evolve rapidly, youth need agile and adaptive skillsets. Technical and vocational training is well-positioned to help youth navigate these changes by:
- Reducing barriers to employment
- Ensuring skills are relevant and certified
- Promoting green skills
- Offering opportunities for those not in education or jobs
On World Youth Skills Day, we should recognize youth’s potential as catalysts for change and commit to providing them the skills and opportunities to build a sustainable future. Together, we can ensure no young person is left behind.
History of World Youth Skills Day
In December 2014, the U.N. General Assembly declared July 15 as World Youth Skills Day. Its goal was to improve socioeconomic conditions for today’s youth and address the problem of unemployment.
By reducing access barriers to employment, International Youth Skills Day aims to address skills and competency challenges. As part of its mission, the UN and its agencies ensure that youth skills around the world are recognized and certified. Also, they offer opportunities for young people who are out of school and not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) to develop their skills.
Youth Skills Day in India
The Skill India Mission was also launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 15, 2015, with the aim of training over 40 crore Indians in a variety of skills by 2022. Through this mission, Indian youth will receive training and certification for a better livelihood.
Government Skill Training Schemes of India
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Launched in 2015, this scheme promotes skill development among the country’s youth. The program provides short-duration skills training for youth and also offers placement assistance at the end. Through skill training, the scheme aims to increase worker productivity, make the youth employable, and align skills training with the country’s needs.
- Advanced Vocational Training Scheme (AVTS): Training in selected areas is provided through short-term modules, which last anywhere from one to six weeks, under the AVTS scheme. Designed to meet the needs of the country’s industrial sector, these courses are tailored to meet the country’s educational needs. Training takes place at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and workers are equipped with valuable skills.
- Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS): In this scheme, industrial training institutes (ITIs) provide training courses to youth. With this program, the domestic industry can get skilled workers in various trades and young people can find employment.
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKK): Under the Skill India Mission, the Indian government launched this scheme. Each district of the country will have a model training center that is state-of-the-art and aspirational. Known as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras, the centers offer courses that focus on employability and are industry-driven.
- Skill Strength for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE): World Bank assistance was provided to launch the STRIVE government scheme. The program aims to improve the quality and market relevance of long-term vocational training programs by bringing reforms to institutions. Institutions are to be strengthened and enabled to deliver quality skill development training through the initiative.
Significance of World Youth Skills Day
By participating in skill development programs organized by various training institutions on World Youth Skills Day, young people can display their skills. Moreover, it enables youths to interact with technical and vocational education and training institutions, employers, workers’ organizations, firms, and development partners. Youth employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship skills are also emphasized on this day.
How to Celebrate World Youth Skills Day?
A global virtual event titled ‘Transforming youth skills for the future, will take place between 10 am and 12.30 pm (EDT) on July 15, 2022. In this event, representatives from the private sector, the UN agencies, and civil society will gather to discuss how young people can adapt to the current situation after the pandemic.
- To observe World Youth Skill Day, you can also do the following –
- Consider learning the importance of vocational education for youth.
- Prepare your children for their future careers by discussing their skills.
- Find out what challenges young people face today in terms of education and employment.
Source – WorldSkills.org
World Youth Skills Day Quiz – FAQs
World Youth Skills Day is celebrated on 15 July every year.
The 2024 theme of World Youth Skills Day is “Youth Skills for Peace and Development”.
Some Indian Govt. skill development programmes are – Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Advanced Vocational Training Scheme, Craftsman Training Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras, Skill Strength for Industrial Value Enhancement
In December 2014, the UN General Assembly announced July 15 Youth Skills Day.
On July 15, 2015, India’s PM Narendra Modi launched Skill India Mission.