World Youth Skills Day 2021: History, theme and significance

World Youth Skills Day 2021

The United Nations General Assembly declared July 15 as World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) in 2014 to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. The day provides a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers, policymakers, etc. The Skill India Mission was also launched on this day, July 15. 

This year, World Youth Skills Day takes place in a challenging context due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures that have led to the worldwide closure of technical and vocational training education and training (TVET) institutions, alarming the vitality of skills development. 

World Youth Skills Day: History

15 July is declared as World Youth Skills Day through a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2014. The main aim of the day is to achieve better socio-economic conditions for today’s youth in terms of challenges of unemployment and under-employment. 

Significance

The Education 2030 mission devotes a major part of its attention to technical and vocational skills development, specifically regarding access to affordable quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Through this initiative, the United Nations urges its member countries to provide technical and vocational skills to young people for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship.

The World Youth Skills Day also promotes the elimination of gender inequality and ensuring access to resources for the vulnerable. According to the UN, it is the TVET’s responsibility to address several demands of an economic, social, and environmental nature by helping youth and adults develop the skills they need for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship.

They are also required to promote equitable, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, and support transitions to green economies and environmental sustainability through these changes.

Theme

The theme of World Youth Skills Day 2021 is “Reimagining Youth Skills Post Pandemic“. This year, the United Nations will pay tribute to the resilience and creativity of youth through the pandemic and its subsequent crisis.

The events are organized by the Permanent Missions of Sri Lanka and Portugal to the UN, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, UNESCO, and ILO. The virtual event brings together young people, the UN Member States, TVET institutions, the private sector, worker’s organizations, policymakers, and development partners.

In India, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship organized a digital conclave to mark the occasion.  

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