What is Vocational Education?

Digital 360
3 min readDec 6, 2021

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Vocational education provides students with hands-on experience and skills that they can use in the workforce.

It offers young people who don’t plan to go to college the opportunity to learn a trade, explore career options and have the chance to be successful in their careers right after graduation. Vocational programs are also good for those who didn’t do well in school and want another chance at success.

Vocational education is a series of courses that helps students learn job skills. These classes can build the knowledge and skills necessary to enter the workforce. Vocational education can also help students create a solid foundation for their educational future.

How is it different from other educational options?

A vocational education program is different from a regular schools in India because it focuses on providing career-specific job training, rather than completing a high school diploma. Students also take classes in subjects such as reading, writing, and math, but they don’t earn a traditional diploma. Instead, they receive a certificate or degree that recognizes their training and skills. How

Is Vocational Education Different From Other Educational Options?

Vocational education may be an option for those who:

  • Don’t plan to attend college after high school
  • Want specific job training or apprenticeship programs
  • Are looking for work experience before college admission or a job after graduation

There are many different types of vocational education, which are grouped into three categories:

  • Technical schools. These schools provide a wide variety of vocational training based in the classroom and the lab. Students learn how to use tools such as drills, saws, and computers, along with various technologies.
  • Apprenticeships. These programs pair students with local employers who offer paid work opportunities while they’re studying.
  • Work-based learning programs. Students learn in conjunction with their community and earn while they learn by working in their chosen field.

What kind of impact does vocational education make?

According to research done by by a top international school in India, about 2.4 million students are enrolled in some kind of vocational program at any given time. That’s nearly a quarter of all post-secondary students. Of those, two-thirds of them are studying toward a certificate or diploma — the most common form of a vocational program at the secondary level.

Students in vocational programs learn useful, employable skills that they can use right away to get a job or start their own business while they continue their education to upgrade their skills and knowledge base over time. Unlike a high school diploma, which requires only 10 months of full-time study to earn, there are different levels of vocational certificates and diplomas available depending on the complexity of the skills you’re learning and how long it takes you to get them.

Quality vocational education programs emphasize student life skills, including teamwork, communication, and leadership. A comprehensive approach to learning is another hallmark of a high-quality program. Rather than focusing exclusively on development related to a specific career path, vocational programs incorporate lessons on financial literacy, ethics, and other subjects that will help prepare students for life beyond graduation.

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