Thiruvananthapuram: Over 4,000 apprenticeships have been granted to polytechnic and engineering students by the State Higher Education Department, stated Kerala Higher Education Minister Dr R Bindu. The selections were made through the Supervisory Development Centre at Kalamassery.

Training will be given to the apprentices for one year. Representatives of over 50 different companies in the State selected the trainees.

Those who complete the apprenticeship successfully will be awarded certificates recognised by the Central Government. This document could be produced as the certificate of work experience for gaining employment in Central and State government establishments, Minister Dr R Bindu said.

The apprentice trainees were selected for over 50 different industrial sectors in the State. A total of 704 candidates were appointed as apprentices at the centralised interview conducted at the Central Polytechnic, Thiruvananthapuram.

A trainee stipend would be paid to the apprentices at the rate fixed by the Board of Apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship scheme

The aim of the apprenticeship scheme is to give practical training to new B Tech graduates and diploma holders, thereby making them employment-worthy in industrial and other establishments.

The scheme is also meant to provide them the opportunity to become successful entrepreneurs by imparting them with technical knowledge and professional skills.