Comparative Education for Occupations: An International Conference Report.

Overview & Synopsis

Representatives from five West European countries and the U.S. present overviews of their respective countries' education systems and approach to vocational education. The introduction notes that both money spent on and student enrollments in vocational education are increasing in Europe as in the U.S. and that educational reform appears to take into account the need for more career development, more clustering of occupational areas, and more coordination with business and industry. Education system diagrams are included from each country, along with discussion of educational and governmental policy. Papers deal with (1) Great Britain--its further education, industrial training, teacher education, and financing and building; (2) Sweden--its comprehensive compulsory schools, the new organization of study with vocational orientation counselors and new forms of orientation to the working life; (3) West Germany--its occupational training system and full-time vocational schools; (4) Finland--a review of its development efforts, its problems and major issues; and (5) Denmark--trends in its educational development, the further education of teachers, and pedagogical development. Finally, an Office of Education deputy commissioner gives his overview of the present situation in vocational education in the U.S. (CP)