An individual can convert his knowledge and skill into diploma and degrees which can be awarded to learners without going to schools or colleges.

A learner can pay the teacher directly and the skills are made bankable. These are some of the out-of-box initiatives that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has suggested to Chief Ministers for implementation.

"There is a need to promote multiple models of delivery that can respond to different situations in various states," Singh said in his letter to the Chief Ministers.

The skill development strategy being devised by the government lays focus on an individual transferring to another knowledge that gets certified and tested.

"Some of the key governance principles for a skill development strategy would be to design programmes under which the learner can pay the skill provider directly, skills are made bankable and individuals are enabled to convert their knowledge and skills, through testing and certification, into higher diplomas and degrees," Singh said.

The Prime Minister has suggested that the states may make available buildings of public educational institutions above the high school level after class hours for skill development to any agency, including the private sector.

It is estimated that there are two lakh such educational institutions many of which can become skill development centres immediately without affecting the formal education that takes place during class hours.

The government has finalised an institutional arrangement at the national level that includes a National Council for Skill Development chaired by the Prime Minister, a National Skill Development Coordination Board coordinated by the Planning Commission and a National Skill Development Corporation catalysed by the Finance Ministry.