Imagine this: an engineering graduate with a degree, project reports, and good grades, but still jobless. Why? Because while the theory is strong, the real-world experience is missing. This is the reality for lakhs of young Indians today. In fact, nearly 83% of engineering graduates face trouble landing their first job.

The solution? Apprenticeships. Unlike plain classroom learning, apprenticeships allow students to learn by doing, getting hands-on training while still studying. Countries like Germany have shown how powerful this model can be. Their “dual education system” mixes academics with real work, leading to higher employment and stronger skills.

In India too, schemes like the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) exist. But awareness, implementation, and perception remain weak. Many still think apprenticeships are only for factory or technical jobs. In reality, they can work in every sector from IT to healthcare to media.

Apprenticeships also help employers, they get trained talent, better productivity, and higher retention. For students, it means employability, income stability, and long-term career growth.

India’s biggest challenge is not lack of degrees but lack of applied skills. The answer is clear: make apprenticeships mainstream.