Centre, UNICEF to provide career counselling for Eklavya students, Pg14

Context:

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and UNICEF have launched TALASH, a digital initiative to provide psychometric assessments, career counselling, and life skills training for students in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).

Key Highlights:

• TALASH (Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills, and Self-Esteem Hub) is a digital platform launched by NESTS in collaboration with UNICEF.
• Targets over 1.38 lakh students in 470+ Eklavya schools across India.
• Includes a common aptitude test to generate individual “career cards” suggesting suitable career paths.
• Offers training in life skills like communication, emotional management, and problem-solving.
• A dedicated portal will help educators mentor students in academic and personal development.
• Over 180 teachers trained in 75 EMRS so far; nationwide rollout expected by year-end.
• MoUs signed with Tata Motors and Ex-Navodayan Foundation to provide coaching for IIT-JEE and NEET aspirants from tribal communities.

Detailed Insights:

• NESTS (National Education Society for Tribal Students) administers EMRS schools to ensure quality education for tribal children. 
• The TALASH platform fosters self-awareness and informed career decision-making through psychometric tools.
• Integrating career counselling addresses the gap in aspiration-building and future readiness among tribal students.
• Partnership with UNICEF ensures global best practices in student counselling and skill development.
• Coaching tie-ups aim to enhance access to elite professional education for tribal youth, bridging socioeconomic barriers.
• The program also reflects the shift in education policy focus from rote learning to holistic and aptitude-based development, aligned with NEP 2020.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Psychometric Assessment: A standardized testing method to evaluate cognitive abilities, personality traits, and career inclinations.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are a network of schools in India focused on providing quality education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. 
• Life Skills Education: As per WHO, includes problem-solving, communication, decision-making, and emotional intelligence training.
• Digital Career Card: A personalized report generated from aptitude results to guide students in career planning.