Vocational Education and Training: Singapore and other Third World Initiatives

This paper examines the underlying reasons for the formulation of policies and practices to abate the growing problem of the ‘educated’ unemployed through the initiative of vocational education and training schemes. The paper outlines the main reasons why in Singapore there is a convergence between its vocational education and training strategy and work while this is not generally so for many other Third World countries. It then focusses its discussion on the reasons why there is a mismatch between vocational education and training and work in many Third World countries. The paper concludes by suggesting an alternative strategy for Third World countries through which they may be better able to interface education and work.