Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is witnessing a curriculum shift in school education with a growing emphasis on practical, skill-based learning through the ‘Learning by Doing’ (LBD) programme under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. Aimed at students from classes 6 to 8, the initiative integrates classroom education with real world applications across diverse sectors like woodwork, metalwork, energy and environment, agriculture and horticulture, and health and nutrition.
Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, the programme encourages skill development, innovation, and self-reliance among students by introducing vocational elements early in education. The Basic Education Department has provided multi-skilling training to science and mathematics teachers to help deliver this new pedagogical approach.
Additionally, a manual comprising 60 skill based activities developed with inputs from UNICEF and Vigyan Ashram has been approved by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). In 2024–25, LBD labs were set up in 2,274 upper primary and composite schools across all 75 districts.
Each lab is equipped with over 200 tools and instruments, and School Management Committees (SMCs) were given resources to support the required consumables. The pilot programme, initiated in 60 schools across 15 districts, trained nearly 6,000 students and reportedly increased classroom engagement and attendance.
An expansion is planned in 3,288 additional schools in 2025–26 under Samagra Shiksha and the PM SHRI scheme. The programme is designed to offer vocational education exposure to lakhs of students across the state.
A distinctive aspect of the initiative is its emphasis on the dignity of labour and inclusive participation. Many girls have been actively involved in activities such as engineering and electrical work, indicating a positive shift towards gender balance in vocational education.
The programme reflects a broader trend toward equipping students not only with academic knowledge but also with practical skills essential for future employability. By incorporating hands-on learning, the initiative aims to prepare a generation capable of adapting to evolving workforce demands.
