An Evaluative Study of Vocational Education and Skill Development in India With Reference to Policy Framework

Abstract

India the land of diversity in culture, tradition, art, craft and education has always given great importance to education, be it in the form of formal or informal education. It has followed the tradition of imparting some form of education to its next generation either in the form of general education or imparting skills related to any vocation. A religious preacher/guru taught his children the skills related to performing religious rituals, a blacksmith taught his children skills related to his vocation, a cobbler imparted skills related to his vocation to his children but, the basic motive was to link education to some skill or the other in order to enable the next generation to be gainfully employed. newlineAccording to Kumar (2001) education has always embraced vocational elements and aims. It has always combined eternal values and cultural objectives achieved by the study of literature, science, history, mathematics, art and music with the need to respond to social, economic and industrial demands of the age. Since the beginning of time occupational knowledge and mental skills have been transmitted from man to man and from generation to generation. This transmitting process, whatever its form of organization, has developed into the process that has now given rise to expansions and developments of what may be termed as vocational education. (Kumar. 2001) [1] newlineKumar (2001) also states that in a broad sense, vocational education becomes that part of the total experience where by man learns to carry on a gainful occupation proficiently and efficiently. The term vocational education as used in this broad sense is meant to cover both unorganized and organized methods of transmitting knowledge, skills and competencies. In a strictly utilitarian sense, vocational education or training implies a series of organized and controlled learning experiences used to educate or train any person or persons for a given employment. (Kumar. 2001) [1] newlineTula Ram (2005) stated that the basic aim behind education is to foster growth and inte