vocational education

Question 1

what is vocational education

Answer 1

eg apprenticeships or college

assessment through portfolio of evidence

btec’s

60% of adult workforce has a vocational qualification of some sort comapred to 10% in 70s

Question 2

functionalism view

Answer 2

Shultz - human capital theory

productive investment - sustain economic growth

educated and trained workers

Davis and Moore

allows for role allocation

however - overly optimistic view as marxists point dangers to class divide between academic and vocational education

Question 3

marxist view

Answer 3

neo-marxist finn

hidden political agenda - cheap labour for employers

Cohen - encourage young people to accept future of low paid and unskilled work

working class and ethnic minority - reinforces class divisions

Question 4

new right view

Answer 4

education system doesnt meet goals

lost touch with economy

should be marketised and allow parent choice
should prepare students to compete in global workforce

• however - policies led to vocational education for working class and academic for middle class reproducing class inequalities

Question 5

postmodernist view

Answer 5

harvey

portfolio workers - flexible labour market

better than academic education

provides diversity

• however - marxists argue only appears diverse - continues to reproduce inequality including through new vocational initiatives which channel working class students into working class jobs