Bhubaneswar: Five-day skill development training programme for Class XII students and vocational lecturers of Government Vocational Higher Secondary Schools commenced today at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Bhubaneswar. The programme has been organised for Government Vocational Higher Secondary Schools functioning under the School and Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha.
A total of 68 students from the Tourism and Hospitality trade are participating in the training programme. The training will continue from November 2 to 6, 2026, with a focus on enhancing students’ practical skills and industry-oriented competencies. Students and lecturers from four districts—Ganjam, Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur—are participating in the programme.
The inaugural session was attended by Binita Senapati, Additional Director, Directorate of Higher Secondary Education; Jitendra Nayak, Deputy Director; Sambit Suman, HOD, Production Department,IHM ; Smitarekha Mohanty, Research Assistant, Directorate of Higher Secondary Education; and Aniruddha Mahapatra, SO, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Binita Senapati emphasised the importance of vocational education and stated that students must be equipped not only with theoretical knowledge but also with practical skills that promote self-reliance and employability. She highlighted that training in the Tourism and Hospitality sector would open up diverse employment opportunities for students in areas such as hotel management, tourism guidance and hospitality services. She further expressed that vocational education plays a significant role in addressing unemployment by making students skilled and employment-ready.
Similarly, Jitendra Nayak appreciated the collaboration with premier institutions like the Institute of Hotel Management for ensuring quality practical training. He spoke about the objectives of the five-day programme and emphasised the importance of encouraging greater student participation in such skill development initiatives. Sambit Suman appreciated the enthusiasm of the participating students and assured full cooperation in supporting the State’s vision of building a skilled and competent workforce.
