Internships for High School Students in Plan 100 and Swadheen Schools

The Vocational Education Program integrated into secondary schooling significantly enhances the practicality and relevance of secondary education. Among such initiatives, the Multi Skill Foundation Course stands out as a vocational program focusing on “Multi-skill employability and life skills.” This initiative is designed to immerse higher secondary students in the world of work, helping them develop essential transferable employability skills and comprehend the practical application of their acquired skills and theoretical knowledge. The introduction of internships for 11th-grade students under the Samagra Shiksha scheme is a pivotal step toward this goal.

With over a decade of engagement with rural high schools in Maharashtra, our organisation identified the need to extend practical learning opportunities to these students. In July 2022, we launched a project to explore the educational frameworks in Maharashtra’s remote locales, focusing particularly on Plan 100 and Swadheen Schools. We aimed to evaluate internships’ feasibility and potential impact in these settings. The insights gained were both encouraging and thought-provoking, propelling us to devise an innovative strategy: to offer internships aligned with students’ interests, transcending the traditional job-training-centric educational models.

Our Approach:

Following exploratory visits to various schools, we engaged in dialogues to identify local industries, students’ interests, and receptiveness to our internship proposal. With affirmative support, we initiated a pilot program at Dyansamwardhini Vidhyalaya in Shirwal. Starting in October 2022, we facilitated internships for 11th-grade commerce students, marking a pioneering step in experiential learning. This program enabled eighteen students to collaborate with thirteen businesses, fostering significant learning and personal growth.

Internship Experience:

Participants engaged with various sectors, predominantly retail, acquiring hands-on knowledge in sales, ranging from apparel to groceries. The enthusiasm and backing from the students’ families were noteworthy, reinforcing the value of this learning opportunity.

The interns documented their experiences, reflecting on enhanced confidence levels and improved interpersonal skills. We commemorated their achievements through a special ceremony attended by dignitaries, experts, and our headquarters staff, including our communications team who documented these moments.

Expansion and Success:

Building on the success in Shirwal, we expanded our program to Parents English Medium School in the Satara district in the summer of 2023, focusing on Plan 100 and Swadheen Schools. Here, 24 science students embarked on internships supported by 22 businesses. The growing interest from additional schools led to more inclusive project engagement, facilitated by our dedicated Field Officers (FOs) and the introduction of Internship Coordinators (ICs).

The Impact:

By December 2023, our initiative had positively affected 143 students across diverse disciplines in Plan 100 and Swadheen Schools, demonstrating the profound learning benefits of real-world experience. Our endeavour transcends mere internship provision; it is reshaping educational paradigms, advocating for a more experiential and relevant learning framework that prepares students for their future endeavours.