One of the major concerns of the School education system is that it does not prepare a student for employment even after 12 years of schooling. A separate vocational stream was introduced as a part of 10+2, but it failed to attract students. India has a young population which will need to be provided education and skills to gain employment and contribute to development. While the main thrust for skill development will come from the newly createdM inistry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, School education should also play an important role in providing vocational and skill education,
                               

National Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Policy 2015 has envisioned integration of 25% of the schools with skill development programmes by 2022 across the country. Schemes for imparting skill training to secondary school students have beeni ntroduced in many states and the RMSA. The responses to these initiatives are still not very encouraging as vocational education is still perceived to be inferior. The schools where these programs are offered to do not have the requisite workshops, trainers and industry linkages to impart high quality skill education.

India's All India Technical Education Council (AICTE) reported in 2013 that there are more than 4,599 vocational institutions offering architecture, engineering, hotel management, infrastructure, pharmacy, technology, municipal services and more. In these schools, 17.4 lakh students were enrolled.[53] In 2012, the total annual capacity for technical diplomas and degrees exceeded 34 lakh.

Total enrollment in Science, Medicine, Agriculture and Engineering has crossed 65 lakh in 2010, according to the University Grants Commission (UGC). Since 2001, the number of women selecting engineering has more than doubled.