Vocational Education means learning to change one’s behavior to enhance the quality of life through work and values, without or along with formal schooling. If the learning through the vocational approach enhances self-employment and economic productivity of the people then the war against poverty can be fought and conquered in a constructive way. Vocational education can play a vital role to improve their standard of life and to help them participate in national development. Many countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines have got a lot of economic benefits through Vocational Education (VE). So it has been proved that economic implications of Vocational Education are many, particularly for a country which has a vast population of adult illiterates. So the time has come for us to find out the role of vocational education in poverty reduction. We also need to identify measures to make VE more effective in poverty reduction.
Vocational education is mostly non-academic in nature and is related to specific trade, occupation or vocation. Vocational education is gaining importance and people are opting for such courses online and offline to gain skills in the field of their interest. Traditionally, vocational education focused on few trades like welder and automobile mechanic and was mainly enrolled by lower social classes.
Vocational education is basically life and need based education which can convert an un- skilled inexperienced and illiterate population into human resources, formal education system, because of its rigid chronologically graded structure and inflexible nature excludes the poor from its advantages. In this circumstance as the alternative of formal-education it is very much necessary to evaluate vocational education so that we can determine the extent of its success and weakness at any stage of poverty reduction as it is considered the best way to bring about longer lasting socio- economic change and self development.
Benefits of Vocational Education –
Ready for Job: Vocational education makes a student employment ready. It provides students required skills and training for a particular job such as Interior Designing, Fashion Designing, Computer Networking, etc. Along with the classroom instructions students also get practical knowledge. This makes the students job-ready and experts in their field.
Low Education Cost: Private and Government institutes provide vocational education and the fees for such courses are quite economic. Vocational courses are easy and cheaper alternative for students who do not want to take a three year degree course and cannot afford the hostel fees, commuting and added costs. Many vocational courses are as good as degree courses and provide employment to the students. Vocational course is the best option for those who cannot manage the expenses for college degree.
Easy Employment: Vocational training makes it easy for the students to find employment opportunities. There is a growing need of skilled and efficient manpower for jobs in various sectors. The students with vocational training have advantage over the college pass outs. The students with vocational training are preferred as they possess right skills, education and knowledge for the job. Thus, easy and fast employment is a major advantage that students with vocational training have. Vocational education and skills can also provide students employment opportunities in foreign countries.
Career Advancement: For people who already have a job and want to acquire further skills to enhance their career, vocational education is the best alternative. The duration of the course is quite less compared to the degree courses but the skills imparted are quite important and useful. Professionals can improve their career prospects and be successful. Students who are less interested in academic studies or the drop outs can choose from the diverse courses available and enhance their skills in the field of their interest. Vocational education can help students make a successful career.
Meet Market Demand: Employers in various industries rely on training organizations to impart knowledge and skills to the workers. These training organizations need to train the workers and ensure that their services meet the needs of employers and the students are job ready. Students who pursue vocational courses at college level do not require undergoing such training programs. This saves the company cost spent in training.
Economic Development: There is a growing need of skilled professionals in various sectors across the world. The existence of skilled manpower is beneficial to the society and also for the economic development of the nation. There would be lesser need to import manpower from foreign countries at higher wages.
Job Satisfaction: There are also various indirect benefits. For instance, vocational education boosts confidence of the students and they are well groomed and trained that makes them eligible for specific jobs. It also increases the job satisfaction and results in high productivity.
The bonus of vocational education over the more traditional forms of instruction available at even community colleges, universities, and schools is the vocational model permits the pupil to concentrate on the subject of study. Most of the vocational schools now also offer online vocational training, where any person are able to finish their coursework on the internet in the comfort of their house, according to their own personal pace and schedule. For the person who has a full time job and family obligations, the online learning process, also referred to as distance learning, can be a real blessing.
Vocational Education is nothing less than a blessing for those who cannot go for professional courses for some reason or the other. It provides a wonderful and affordable opportunity to acquire technical skills and improve their employability factor. A quality vocational education provided by skilled trainers will generate young and efficient workforce, which will contribute immensely to the progress of the nation. It also provides an opportunity to generate self employment to the people residing below poverty line, differently able or women. Such people are taught skills to start up their own business in a trade of their choice.
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