In recent decades it has become almost de rigeur for young people to go onto higher education, and 2013, according to UCAS figures, saw the highest uptake ever recorded with almost 50% of students going on to university (UCAS, 2013). However, although it’s long been a government objective to reach this level of university attendance, there’s a school of thought which suggests that the UK is now educating too many young people to degree level and that those same youngsters, and the current job market, would be better served by a greater focus on vocational training. This debate, about whether young minds are better served focussing on practical skill acquisition over theory and deeper understanding, has been progressing in the UK for many …show more content…
OECD, 2012) that there is often a strong scrutiny of government policies when it comes to implementing a successful balance of knowledge based and practically applicable courses.
This paper aims to initially consider the scope, development and impact of the wider academic vs. vocational divide. Within this, however, consideration will be given to the implementation and relevance of various governmental policies central to the future of this key topic. The key areas to be considered include: the funding requirements and provision for vocational courses linked to government based learning objectives and institutional student quota criteria; the potential impact of raising the school leaving age and the needs of both learners and employers – are they being met? The aim of the paper is to establish a perspective on this interesting topic that is equally historical, current and future looking, as well as to understand the ways that Government based education policies are implemented and integrated at the institutional and staffing levels.
History
When shaping any discussion on the prevalence of the academic/vocational (AV) divide, it is prudent to first outline some working terminology. The UNESCO Convention (1989) describes vocational education and training as:
“All forms and levels of the education process involving, in addition to general knowledge, the study of technologies and related sciences…the acquisition of practical skills, know-how, attitudes and
In his Essay “Are too many people going to college,” first published in a 2008 issue of AEI, Charles Murray explores many insights onto the topic of furthering education as well as exploring various other options to pursue after high school. Who exactly would think that too many people are going to college? Well with more and more students flooding campuses at the end of every school year and less and less going into trade schools, a shift in the job market is just beginning to be seen on the horizon. Charles Murray’s essay “Are too many people going to college” shows that not only are there other avenues to pursue a potential life long career, but that much of the time pursuing these avenues may offer better results for some wanting to go to college.
Vocational Education has been around throughout history in ways that were not noticed as a trending way for education. After the wars, families were self-sustained through personal knowledge and self-learned skills needed to survive. As society, advanced, newer, more efficient ways of completing tasks and learning took place, to include assistance outside the home, so families could better provide for itself. It was through these advancements that paved the way to vocational education as we know it today. There has been
Traditional in th UK you stayed in education until you were 16 years old, then after this age they had many options to choose from regarding their future whether they stayed in education or started employment. Unfortunately in today’s current
Charles Murray is writing to The Wall Street Journal, which is a huge and very diverse audience to whom to present such a controversial argument. The point Murray is trying to make is that vocational schools are more effective and logical courses of action for young people entering the job market than is the conventional 4-year-university track. In championing the cause of vocational schools over college, Murray uses logos, appeals to authority, though his tone makes him come across as a little condescending. This may almost damage his argument overall. Murray’s argument is persuasive through his use of
After high school students are faced with the decision to continue pursuing a more advanced education or going into the workforce as society would label it “uneducated”. Although there are more deciding factors than simply
Lee and Nichols (2010) distinguished education which they deemed coursework that provided “theory, science, and empirical discoveries” from training which they considered “the
It can be argued that the English curriculum does help educate young adults for the modern society that England has established. Through the compulsory study of issues such as sex education and careers education, individuals leave education with a thorough knowledge of the current contemporary issues and needs of their society. However, unlike Finland, the English curriculum does not allocate resources for vocational training in the compulsory education sector. For those who do wish to train on a vocational subject, they must chose to undertake training outside of compulsory education i.e. after the leaving secondary school. Therefore it must be argued that the curriculum of Finland best suits individuals for life in the modern society. Not only does the FNBE cover almost every aspect
Mature students’ involvement in higher education is life enhancing and vital to social mobility, but current changes to higher education fees and adult skills strategy represent a substantial risk to forthcoming partaking. This research aims at exploring the challenges faced by mature students to access higher education and the motivating factors that helps them to pursue or resume their academic studies. Whatever the motive, going to higher education as a mature student can be very gratifying, not least because it tends to be a bigger enterprise later in life and consequently the wish to excel is often heightened.
Now a days there’s a lot of pressure for high school graduates to further their education by attending college. Hard evidence states that more high school graduates attend college immediately after graduation compared to any other generation. However, college may seem more of a challenge to some rather than others whom may “need” vocational school. Getting an education is important but some say college isn’t for everyone. In the article “What’s Wrong with Vocational School?” Charles Murray says that not every student is mentally suitable for college and vocational school would prepare them for the vigorous academic demands that come along with college. To critically analyze if this argument is effective
To finish solid occupations we require a school run the show up. "Schools and universities are turning out graduates speedier than America's work markets are making occupations that as a rule have been held for those with degrees"(Selwyn) . More graduated understudies from schools and universities is making it hard for the understudies to arrive magnificent positions or their dream work since affiliations are having less open passages, and the
In the competitive world today, having a college degree might not benefit a student as much as before, thus opening up numerous questions concerning its necessity. Not only is the number of students desperately trying to enroll in college increasing, but the tuition shoots up as well. However, will college enrollment necessarily be enough to increase your chances of attaining job security? The answer is hotly debated amongst adults and students alike, which opens up the second option for students, that is, joining the work force. Although this option is generally shunned by the new generation, the tough economy and slow restoration makes it quite a desirable choice at the moment. Joining the work force is a hard decision to make as it
The field of education has taken on many faces in the past and has always had a component of consistency and predictability. Students attended school, teachers taught the lesson, students took exams, and the process was repeated until the student graduated from secondary school. Everyone involved in the education process including parents, students, teachers, and the community knew their place in the education cycle. Until recently, the status quo of the educational process largely went undisturbed, but as the world markets grew past the borders of local communities, the necessity of workers to be versed in a range of skills has changed.
In today’s’ society, success is often measured by academic and professional achievement. Higher education provides more opportunity and freedom. Statistics verify that generally, the more highly educated have higher earnings and there is a significant difference between wages earned by employees with College degrees and those without. Higher education is often perceived as a means to a ‘better life’ .Though many recognize the benefits of higher education, the rate at which students leave in their first year of College is still very high. Students leave their first year of College for
The situation associated with graduates’ employability is always a relentless policy top priority regarding advanced schooling (HE) policymakers in lots of state-of-the-art american establishments. These types of worries have been provided reconditioned target in the current weather associated with bigger labour market place anxiety. Policymakers carry on and emphasise the significance associated with ‘employability skills’ for graduates to be entirely geared up in achieving the challenges of an more and more adaptable labour market place (DIUS, 2008). This particular document critiques a number of the important empirical and also conceptual styles in your neighborhood associated with graduate employability in the last few years to make good sense associated with graduate employability like a policy matter. This particular document
Vocational Development may be conceived of as beginning early in life and as proceeding along a curve late in life. While four year old child who plays the policeman or solder in his very early stage of vocational development, a old man of sixty who does not work for money but still keeps himself busy with writing books in the field of his specialization is going through the late stages of the vacational development.