Government launches ‘LaunchPad’ platform for 12th Grade students

DIMAPUR — Department of Youth Resources and Sports, in collaboration with YouthNet and supported by School Education department, successfully launched the ‘LaunchPad,’ a comprehensive career guidance and employability skills development programmme, to cater to 12th Grade students across all 44 Government Higher Secondary Schools (GHSS) in Nagaland.

An update from YouthNet informed that ‘LaunchPad’ aims to develop soft skills, motivate for higher education, explore unconventional career paths and address youth unemployment.

It informed that ‘LaunchPad’ achieved remarkable participation and success in guiding students towards career development. It added that ‘LaunchPad’ for year 3 witnessed an overwhelming participation and success in guiding students towards their career development goals.

It stated that for the academic session 2023-24, the programme commenced on October 16, 2023, at GHSS Pungro, Kiphire.

During the launch programme, ‘LaunchPad’ conducted a comprehensive survey involving 3,796 enrolled students in class 12, which revealed valuable insights and preferences that shape their educational journey.

The key findings from the survey indicated that 88.5 percent of respondents preferred Arts, while 8.3 percent chose Science and the remaining opted for Commerce. It was found that 70.7 percent expressed their intention to pursue higher education in college or university after completing high school.

Notably, 47 percent of respondents decided to enter college between the ages of 16-20. A significant majority (73.7%) of students planned to pursue higher education within Nagaland, with 15.7% considering the broader Northrast region and beyond for better exposure facilities and opportunities.

When asked about reasons for choosing to work or pursue professional training, 56.4 percent cited the need to support their family financially, while 33.1 percent aimed to gain work experience and leverage their professional skills.

Additionally, 10.4 percent mentioned financial constraints hindering their pursuit of higher education.

It further mentioned that the findings provided valuable insights for ongoing improvements and the continued impact on the youth of Nagaland.