A wire, a tool and a room full of trainees are familiar sights for Kester Dason. But ask him what happens when the same students have to sit through a theory lesson, and the picture changes.

After nearly 27 years in industrial training, Kester has learnt to notice the difference. Many of the wireman trainees he teaches today join after Class 8 and may struggle with formulas or even basic arithmetic. Yet, when they step into the practical lab, he sees them become more confident, curious and willing to try.

“Those boys are wonderful when it comes to practical work,” he says.

The challenge was getting that same energy into lessons that involved sitting, listening or reading. For years, Kester relied largely on presentations and videos to supplement his classes. That began to change after he attended a 12-day training programme at L&T Skill Trainers Academy (STA) in August 2025.

Larsen & Toubro launched the Skill Trainers Academy on 15 March 2021, with a focus on strengthening the trainers who form an important link between vocational education and the workplace. At the Academy, Kester was introduced to interactive approaches such as Kahoot quizzes, icebreakers and activity-based learning.

Back in his classroom, he began putting them to use.

Instead of beginning immediately with theory, he started using icebreakers to get students comfortable and introduced Kahoot to give them a chance to participate rather than simply listen.

For Kester, the shift was not about replacing practical training. It was about finding better ways to connect theory with the way his students learn best: through participation and action.

Why trainer capacity matters to India’s skilling ecosystem

The genesis of the L&T Skill Trainers Academy was the critical need to strengthen the trainers working across India’s skilling ecosystem, as identified by Mr A M Naik, Chairman Emeritus, L&T, when he was appointed the Chairman of National Skill Development Corporation(NSDC) in November 2018.

A trainer, K Ramakrishnan, Chief Executive, L&T Skill Development Mission, explains, does more than pass on technical knowledge. He and B. S Saluja, Head, Strategic Partnerships, L&T Skill Trainers Academy and about 70% of the academy’s trainers are retired L&T employees, now sharing their years of experience to give back to society. 

He describes meaningful skilling through three elements: knowledge, skills and attitude. While knowledge gives a trainee an understanding of a trade and skills help them apply it, he believes attitude has a wider bearing on how a person works.

“Attitude decides a lot or makes a lot of impact as far as quality, safety and productivity is concerned,” he says. “It also makes you work with a lot of commitment and passion.”

That responsibility is particularly significant in India’s ITI ecosystem, which Ramakrishnan says........

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