India, Aug. 4 -- Twenty-four school boards are in the process of getting recognition as dual category awarding bodies - a status that will authorise them to conduct both training and assessment for vocational courses offered to students - in a major push to integrate vocational education with the formal schooling system in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

While eight state and Union Territory (UT) school boards have submitted their online application forms for the recognition, 16 have initiated the process by registering on the portal of National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), the regulator for skilling and vocational education in India.

Officials from NCVET, education ministry and state boards...