Frontline Health Worker (FHW) which is a non-accredited higher secondary course has been removed this year by the vocational higher secondary section. Instead, admissions will be open for a new course called Lab technician Research and quality control. Manorama had earlier reported that VHSE’s FHW course which had the most number of students was unaccredited.
Apart from FHW, they have also removed Medical Equipment Technician and Tour guide courses. These will be replaced by Hand Held Device Technician (handset and tablet) and Customer Service Executive (meet and greet) courses.
In Kerala, FHW courses are available at 131 schools. From this academic year onwards these schools will have lab technician courses. The other two courses are available in 27 schools.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training banned the FHW course in 2021. Since this course was open last year there are over 4000 students who are currently doing their second year in this course. And the recognition of this is still unclear.