JOIN USCBSE introduces course in geospatial technology
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has now introduced a vocational course on ''Geospatial Technology'' for its higher secondary students, scheduled to come into effect from the 2013-2014 session.
“Demand for geospatial practices has grown over the past few years. Indian geospatial market is on the edge of remarkable growth. By linking geographic data with demographic information and business intelligence, organisations are finding new uses for geospatial practices. This needs huge trained geospatial manpower requirements from geospatial industries, both private and public,” a CBSE official told Deccan Herald.
The course offers an opportunity for the students to understand the basics of the technology dealing with mapping and applications. Students will now get an insight into the diverse geospatial database concepts, creating and implementing the same, GIS theory and spatial analysis, supplemented by extensive practical exercises. The present curriculum on the subject will also help students acquire skills for further studies and to enter into the world as professionals. The new subject will be offered as a single vocational elective in class XI and XII. Students can opt for it as an elective with any other combination of subjects at the senior secondary level or as an additional sixth subject as per the scheme of studies of the Board.
Text books and practical manuals have been prepared and published by the CBSE with support received from the experts of Rolta India Limited, (a Geospatial Solutions Company) and other organisations, sources said. To make it more effective, the Board has also decided to organise a workshop and teacher-training programmes on the subject prior to its implementation at school-level. The Board has decided to introduce the course after it was successfully implemented on pilot basis in few schools during 2010-11.
The CBSE has also designed vocational courses for its higher secondary students on retail operations and services, medical diagnostics, foundry technology, front office operations, food production, food and beverage services, mass media st and media production, talking inputs from industry experts.