CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) has made it mandatory for all trainers engaged under the Vetri Nichayam scheme to clear the newly-launched Trainer Eligibility Test (TrET).

Vetri Nichayam, also known as the Naan Mudhalvan finishing school programme, was introduced to equip unemployed youth with industry-relevant skills and improve their placement prospects. The scheme targets young people aged between 18 and 35, including graduates, ITI and diploma holders, as well as school dropouts seeking immediate employment opportunities.

A senior Higher Education department official said the decision was taken in line with the Vetri Nichayam Quality Assurance Framework to strengthen pedagogy, domain competency and training delivery standards across all TNSDC programmes. "Accordingly, the TrET will be a compulsory requirement for all trainers," the official said.

"Training under the scheme is delivered by industry-renowned training partners, and the TrET would ensure a uniform competency baseline across all trades. All trainers must register for the test. Those who fail to register within the stipulated timeline will be ineligible for the current TrET cycle and placed under provisional suspension," the official added.

According to the department, the TrET is designed to assess holistic trainer competency, covering pedagogy, digital skills, behavioural capability and domain knowledge, in alignment with the Vetri Nichayam Quality Assurance Framework.

The total marks for the test will be 50 for most courses. However, certain practice-oriented and artisan-based courses will be assessed only through practical skill demonstrations and exempted from pedagogical skill evaluation.

The official said trainers have been instructed to complete TrET registration within the prescribed timeline before continuing under the Vetri Nichayam scheme.