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Vocationalism and educational change

This chapter focuses on the changing forms and role of vocationalism within the process of expanding access and changing provision. The authors argue that expansion, as a process, generates particular sets of problems and responses in education. Vocationalism is placed within the context of the longer-term role of education in society, and the shift from liberal policies to a New Right market-oriented approach is discussed. The authors stress that the current vocationalism, especially in the dominant competency form promoted by NCVQ, is strongly associated with a wider political project to change the culture within British institutions. This chapter discusses the role of the market and the state and explains the role of vocationalism in a liberal context and with reference to the New Right project of culture change. The authors argue that vocationalism represents an attempt to repackage traditional legitimations of education in a new form, while at the same time distancing itself from its liberal past. In concluding, the authors draw attention to the vocationalists illusion, claiming to be able to predict the future needs of the economy, something which has never been successfully achieved, and they briefly discuss vocationalism and the peculiarities of the British vocational education and training system.

This chapter focuses on the changing forms and role of vocationalism within the process of expanding access and changing ...  Show Full Abstract  

Authors: Moore, Rob; Hickox, Mike
Date: 1999
Geographic subjects: Europe; Great Britain
Resource type: Article
Subjects: Vocational education and training; Policy; Teaching and learning;

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