- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Mon, 16 Jun 2025 01:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Students of government inter colleges in Uttar Pradesh will now gain more than just academic knowledge, as the state’s Secondary Education Department has launched an ambitious initiative to equip them with modern technical and vocational skills. The new scheme, titled the ‘Dream Program’, aims to set up state-of-the-art ‘Dream Labs’ across government colleges, enabling students to become self-reliant by the time they complete their intermediate education.
Under the program, students will be trained in advanced and industry-relevant fields such as design and innovation, computer-aided machining, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial Internet of Things (IoT), additive manufacturing, drone technology, automobile technology, and EV battery systems. The curriculum has been designed in collaboration with leading industrial partners to align with real-world job market demands.
The initiative will be implemented using a hub-and-spoke model, wherein fully equipped Dream Labs will be established in selected hub schools, each of which will be connected to three spoke schools. Every hub will have two dedicated trainers, while each spoke school will have one trainer to provide hands-on guidance to students.
The program is being launched in partnership with prominent industry players, including Tata Technologies and Japanese firm Yaskawa, along with other key industrial groups. These collaborators will provide infrastructure support such as lab setup, equipment maintenance, raw materials, study materials, and qualified trainers.
The cost of the project will be jointly borne by the state government and industry partners in a 68:32 ratio, and it has also received budget approval from the central government under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
In its pilot phase, the scheme is being introduced in 18 schools—six as hubs and 12 as spokes—with a sanctioned budget of Rs 77.40 crore.
Dr Mahendra Dev, Director of Secondary Education, said, “This initiative will allow students to acquire skill-based training while still in school, preparing them for future employment or self-employment avenues.”
The Dream Lab program marks a major step toward integrating vocational education with mainstream academics, aiming to make government school students future-ready and industry-competent.
