VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Introduction:-

Vocation means profession. Therefore, Vocational education means professional education. In the first part of 20^th century, education aimed at developing skill in mastering language. The basic subjects were History, Philosophy, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and astronomy besides language study. There was very little practical education. Up to intermediate level, the teaching was theory-oriented. After intermediate level some students joined Engineering or Medical sciences’. Others got admitted into Graduations courses and thereafter post-graduation courses. The successful students got degrees in various faculties. After that, they applied for different jobs in Govt. and Private sectors. If some graduate didn’t get any job, he or she became unemployed. His or her graduation certificate didn’t solve the unemployment Problem. The reason was the knowledge of the graduates was basically book knowledge. In order to earn livelihood independently vocational or professional knowledge is essential. When the unemployment problem grew up into gigantic proportions, the Govt. thought of imparting vocational education after matriculation stage. The aim was to make the students stand up on their own legs after their college career. Vocational education is a novel idea which germinated in the later part of the last century.

Not a new concept:-

                Vocational education is not a new concept in India. It existed here centuries ago. Our Caste system was based on division of labour. In the past the families functioned as natural training ground for young novices. The sons learnt the family trade from their fathers or relatives. They earned their living by their family profession. Only a few students got themselves enrolled in the Universities like Nalanda or Takshyasila to enrich their learning. They become masters in different faculties. Majority learnt to live by their traditional trade. So there was no unemployment. The Britishers destroyed this system. They wanted that the Indians should be dependent on the Govt. for their livelihood. In this way the Britisher people could rule India indefinitely. We have not yet learnt. In Practice we are reserving jobs for different castes. We encourage people to leave their family trade and live like dasas or servitors. We are converting Tradesmen into laborers. That is why we are unable to eradicate poverty.

The Gurukulas:-

In the past our Gurukulas put much emphasis on vocational education. Even the princes were asked to rear the cattle and till the land by the Gurus. The gurus were learned men. They conducted various tests to know about the aptitude of a student. From these tests, they knew whether the student was fit to be a farmer or a solder or a businessman or a philosopher. They made him proficient on the particular subject which suited him to best. After completion of education, the students found no difficulty in getting a suitable occupation, such type of education enabled the people to earn a living in an honest way

Drawbacks of the present system:-

The present system of education makes cores of young men unfit for anything. They became a burden on the family after education rather that an asset. Mahatma Gandhi Understood the uselessness of the British system of education. He gave stress on manual work along with book-education. Actually Mahatma Gandhi was one of the first advocates of vocational education.

The new trend:-

Time is changing fast. With the globalization process, there is a boost in the sector of industry, commerce and information technology. The hotel, agriculture and transport system are considered now as industrial sectors. The boon in computer software technology has created a lot of jobs. All these sectors need professionally trained people. So instead of providing conventional education, there must be more stress on vocational colleges. They are not run properly. The scope of must be expanded. The subjects should include electronics, computer technology, hotel management, carpentry, farming, animal care, fishery, information technology, law, business management, bio-chemistry, bio-informatics, bio-technology, stenography, DTP operation, book printing and binding, food preservation, medicine, pathology, engineering, bio-diesel production, driving, motor-mechanics, masonry, dance and music, painting, tailoring and fabricating etc. The students must start learning one of the above courses from class VIII onwards. The vocational education must start from schools. Suitable instructors must be appointed to train the students. In this way our future generation would be self-reliant.

The importance of traditional education:-

Vocational Education doesn’t mean the abolition of traditional system of education. We can’t discard the learning of humanities completely. We have to develop the knowledge and grasping power of the pupils, everyone must be able to think. Therefore, vocational education must be a part of education. It must be taught simultaneously with the humanities.

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