The authors examine six critical areas facing vocational and special educators, including resistance to including handicapped students in vocational programs; underrepresentation and segregation in those programs; and disproportionate funding. G. Krantz's response proposes a caseflow analysis to examine impacts of the U.S. Department of Education…

In 1993 the government of the United Kingdom introduced a raft of measures designed to improve practice in postcompulsory, nonadvanced education. A survey of postcompulsory institutions suggests that the same policies have led to different outcomes in the two main types of institution: general further education colleges and sixth form colleges.…

Since the passage of the National Apprenticeship Act in 1937 apprenticeship has remained a totally voluntary program, the costs of which are covered by the program sponsor (either an employer, a joint labor-employer sponsor, or a government agency). As of 1988, there were about 325,000 apprentices in training and another 55,000 in the armed…

This paper examines the study plan for the National Assessment of Vocational Education (NAVE) and outlines some of the preliminary results that have been determined to date. According to the paper, the NAVE has identified five broad areas in which to conduct research: (1) implementation of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act; (2)…

The author provides an analysis of the current position of continuing education in Britain and clarifies the aims and intentions for the education of adults as expressed or implied by government, society, and those professionally involved. (CT)

The 94th Congress tends to view education as a bridge, a bridge that will make the labor market more accessible to the ignorant, the unskilled, the poor, the unemployed, the handicapped. Each of these groups constitutes a constituency in and of itself. The magnitude of education appropriations especially for vocational and higher education is…

Two papers examine vocational training, special education, and government services for the disabled in the Netherlands. Originally presented at a convention poster session of the 16th World Congress of Rehabilitation International, the first paper focuses on the national institute at Werkenrode which provides a residential practice-based education…

In the early 1970s educational evaluation's fusion of respect for rationality, power to implement rational procedure, and an altruistic objective (improved instruction) appealed to educational researchers. Dealing essentially with closed systems, it measured program success by student performance on measurement instruments. Critics exclaimed that…

The accomplishments and activities of the National and State Advisory Councils, the implications of the Vocational Education Amendments of 1976, and opportunities and problems now facing vocational education are discussed. The author comments that the amendments (1976) are primarily concerned with defining the Federal role in vocational education,…

Traditionally, the majority of high school graduates in China go to academic high schools; however, only about seven percent of them are able to go on to higher education, and some become unemployed. Beginning in 1980, reforms in the education system have created vocational high schools, which, unlike traditional vocational high schools, prepare…

This paper describes and compares the processes of economic and social planning in France and the U.S.S.R., with particular emphasis on national educational planning and how it relates to the overall economic plan. Chapter 1 focuses on various aspects of integrating the educational plan into the overall social and economic plan, with particular…

This document compiles three papers dealing with the past, present, and future states of vocational education. Lawrence F. Davenport concentrates on the impact of vocational education on urban minorities and the disadvantaged. After identifying potential problems which must be encountered if vocational education programs are to be reformed (the…

In a nation where only about half of high school students go on to 4-year postsecondary institutions, vocational-technical education plays a critical role in preparing thousands of people for their first work experience and in retraining thousands more to take full advantage of new job opportunities. As part of the educational reform movement of…

Both the federal administration and Congress, through more dollars and more legislation, are expanding the federal role in education. Major themes running through the various legislative proposals will result in a reduced emphasis on fiscal controls, encouragement for process-oriented requirements, better integration of federal programs, and…

This paper shows how the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) can be carried out in a country with a very complicated upper-secondary educational system. The difficulties are not linked to the measurement of achievement, since the international project provides a common achievement scale. The challenge lies in the design of…