Vocational skill and training promote the workers’ ability to acquire information and learn about the economic characteristics of all inputs in the process of production. Such information is important for performing jobs whether in agriculture or industry or anywhere else. Even highly routines operations require an intimate awareness and appreciation of related information. In a dynamic technological setting, vocational training programmes for skill development can be used as an instrument to narrow the gap between the new available technology and the one in use at that point of time. Vocational skilled hands constitute an effective instrument for the diffusion of emerging technology in an economy. Skilled workers can contribute more with given resources, or the same could be accomplished with even fewer resources. Harbison (1962) has stated that, “‘It is important to understand that training and education are two quite different processes, and planners should draw a sharp distinction between them. Training involves the development of specific skills, which are needed to perform a particular job or series of jobs. Education involves the acquisition of general knowledge and development of basic mental ability“.
It is not enough to decide only the level of education, for the kind of education is also important. There is often a temptation to argue that because an economy needs particular skills, it would be efficient to provide vocational schools. Foster (1965) pointed out the fallacy in this some years ago. He argued that vocational education provided in formal education institutions could not become an effective method of accelerating economic development. This was because general education was necessary foundation for vocational education, which should be closely linked with on-the-job training.
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“Dr. Abdulkalam Sevak Samaj, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to creating a positive societal impact through community-driven programs inspired by the teachings of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.”