The courses will be introduced from the academic session 2010-11 in selected Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas.

The MoU was signed between the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) and the CBSE on Tuesday.

The NCHMCT will provide guidance to the Board in curriculum design, session planning and academic scheduling of vocational subjects of the HMCT course. It will also guide and assist in content development and book writing for the subject.

The CBSE will ensure that students enroll with its Regional Office concerned in a prescribed proforma for tests and should collect the examination fee.

The board will also ensure that its regional office prepares a consolidated list of candidates with respect to Mentor Centres of the NCHMCT and remit the examination fee collected along with the list of candidates to the apex body for enrolling and conducting of module examination, if any. 

All theory and practical examinations for Class XII will be conducted by the CBSE on an external basis, in consultation with the NCHMCT.

Joint certification will be developed by the CBSE and the apex body of hotel management and catering technology.

The apex body will also set up Mentor Centres wherever possible in the country, in order to facilitate the students to take the examination at these centres and will also provide guidance to all students registered with the CBSE.

During the first phase, the course will be introduced in selected schools having sufficient infrastructure and where the NCHMCT is in a position to hold examinations.

Other subjects

The subjects which are expected to be introduced at the higher secondary level are food production and food and beverage service. 

Speaking on the occasion Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said he would hold a dialogue with the universities to enable a seamless transition of these students from the senior secondary level to the undergraduate level.