Abstract:
Vocational education has emerged in the past ten years as an important facet of the post-compulsory years of schooling. The growth in retention rates of students during that time to Years 11 and 12 has been the impetus for the development of varied curriculum and pathways of study to ensure that the needs of all students, not just those aiming for tertiary entrance, are met. In NSW this has resulted in the Pathways program for the Higher School Certificate, which has enabled students to diversify their programs of study and to undertake vocationally-oriented course work in employment preparation programs.
This paper will address this development in the post-compulsory secondary education of students in new times. It will focus on the development of vocational education in New South Wales schools and particularly on the results of a research project which investigated the effects of vocational education on the development of self-concept and vocational preparation in senior secondary students. It will highlight common elements and diverse initiatives in relation to program design and implementation and will discuss implications for the ongoing development of vocational education and areas of future research.
This paper will address this development in the post-compulsory secondary education of students in new times. It will focus on the development of vocational education in New South Wales schools and particularly on the results of a research project which investigated the effects of vocational education on the development of self-concept and vocational preparation in senior secondary students. It will highlight common elements and diverse initiatives in relation to program design and implementation and will discuss implications for the ongoing development of vocational education and areas of future research.