National Profiles in Technical and Vocational Education in Asia and the Pacific: India.

Asia-Pacific Centre of Educational Innovation for Development (ACEID), UNESCO Principal Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, P.O. Box 967, Prakanong Post Office, Bangkok 10110, Thailand; Networking and Information Service Unit, CPSC, P.O. Box 7500, Domestic Airport Post Office, NAIA, Pasay City 1300, Manila, Philippines.

N

44

College Programs; Economic Development; Educational Change; Educational History; Educational Philosophy; Educational Policy; Educational Practices; Educational Trends; Employment Problems; Females; Foreign Countries; Futures (of Society); Policy Formation; Postsecondary Education; Public Policy; Secondary Education; Technical Education; Vocational Education; Vocational Schools; Womens Education

One of a series of studies on the development of technical and vocational education in the member states of UNESCO, this report profiles the educational system in India. The seven parts of the document provide information about the following: geography and education, structure of the educational system, national educational policy, management and financing of the technical education system, the vocational education and training system, and challenges and future perspectives. Some of the highlights are as follows: (1) India has a long tradition of education, both formal and informal; (2) the modern education system was started around 1854 with the implementation of Macaulay's recommendations and was based on British colonial interests--but still was opened up to the masses; (2) the literacy rate is about 52 percent, with about 64 percent of males and 39 percent of females being literate; (3) the literacy rate varies considerably from state to state; (4) the educational system has 5 years of primary education, 5 years of secondary education, and 2 years of general or vocational education (grades 11-12); (5) university education and professional education is mostly privately offered; (6) there has been great growth in polytechnic education, requiring either 10 or 12 years of previous schooling; (7) most of the polytechnics offer 3-year diploma courses in engineering, although some offer electronics, computer science, medical laboratory technology, and other skill; and (8) planned changed in the Indian economy will require the technical education system to become more flexible and efficient. (KC)

1997

ED399381