Although in most developing countries, major vocational training programs are financed from general government revenues, earmarked payroll taxes are becoming increasingly popular. This paper summarizes international experience with these payroll taxes, distinguishing between the more traditional revenue-raising schemes of the Latin American model…

A General Accounting Office study examined strategies used to prepare youth for employment in the United States and four competitor nations and found that other countries have higher expectations of students, invest heavily in education and training, have national training standards, and have higher literacy rates among young adults. (JOW)

Documents a literacy problem in an electronics factory in which workers failed to read or follow written instructions. Suggests that to be truly literate, employees need access to a wider range of information about companies and their work and that work should be organized to allow, even require, workers to take responsibility for reading and…

The world is going through a rapid transformation process in all fields. Those countries, which cannot keep up with this process, face numerous problems in terms of maintaining the living standards of their citizens. With the priority of enhancing the lives of individuals, the field of education is greatly affected by this process. Therefore in…

Educational performance has become a crucial element in the United States' capacity to prosper in a new global economy of fierce competition. In addition to the traditional question of how the educational system contributes to students' intellectual growth, a new question is being asked: How does the educational system contribute to national…

These proceedings begin with a general summary of a conference to encourage collaboration among those involved to prepare a labor force with which Nevada could continue to be economically competitive. Highlights are provided of these presentations: "Opening Remarks" (Jessie Emmett); "The Dynamic West: A Region in Transition"…

Review of the methods for estimating future employment opportunities shows that there is an ongoing system, involving the Department of Labor and state employment agencies, for making projections for the United States as a whole and for states and major metropolitan areas. This system combines national research on economic growth, technological…

Focusing on major issues related to the preparation of the nation's work force, the yearbook considers all sectors of manpower preparation--public and private schools, industry, military, and other agencies. Thirty contributing authors represent the broad fields of manpower and research. Section 1, The Opportunity for Leadership, contains chapters…

The transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe have undergone substantial changes due, in part, to vocational education and training (VET). One of the most important objectives of the European Union (EU) enlargement process is to monitor key indicators of the educational systems and labor markets so that the different skills in demand and…

Author is a member of the Department of Educational Sociology at the University of Edinburgh. He examines here an important international achievement study. (Editor/RK)

Increasingly, youth are unable to demonstrate minimum competencies in job skills and productive attitudes. Service and white-collar jobs are replacing manual jobs and youth lack the social skills necessary to function in these jobs. Increased attention to cooperative education, which integrates academic/career interests with productive work…

A nominal group panel prioritized implications for vocational teacher education from 19 selected documents. Highest ranked items were (1) secondary and postsecondary teachers, counselors, and administrators should have philosophical understanding of vocational education's role in work force preparation; and (2) teacher education programs should…

Reviews cooperative learning benefits and advises vocational teachers, principals, supervisors, administrators, and student organization members to cooperate to plan meaningful activities. Describes Future Homemakers of America's planning process; advocates a balance among cooperative, competitive, and individualized working modes; and provides…

Examines the agreements Japanese high schools have with employers to hire their students, the reasons these ties are made, and the criteria used to select students. Indicates that competition for jobs is shifted from the labor market to schools and among schools. Reports that academic achievement has greater effects on jobs with linked employers…