This case study examines influences on the selection and delivery of knowledge in the employment preparation provision of a trade union in British Columbia. Bernstein's theories of curricular code and Bourdieu's perspectives on social and cultural capital are used to analyse data collected by interviews, observation, and documentary analysis. The emergent themes are organisational structure, pedagogic practice, diversity and difference, and the good employee ideal, with each of these demonstrating the tension between the philosophical orientation of the organisation, as a representative of the labour movement, and the demands of the funding and policy structures within which it operates. Analysis illustrates the way curriculum is shaped by forces external to the immediate educational setting, the most pervasive being the requirement to function as an effective means of transferring cultural and social capital to unemployed people. The possibility of using employment preparation as a mechanism to achieve progressive ends is severely limited by the need to acknowledge the priorities of funders, administrators, learners, and the neo-liberal backdrop against which the programs operate. The study implies approaches to curriculum emphasising decisions taken by instructors and learners mask wider structural influences on knowledge formation, and more research on the sociology of knowledge in adult education is called for.

This study attempts to investigate teachers' opinions on technical and vocational education curriculum in the light of political changes and educational policies which are emerging in South Africa. This report starts with a discussion of the methodological considerations, followed by the theoretical framework. The analysis and interpretation are presented as follows: 1. Profile of the sample, 2. Technical and vocational education and economic growth, 3. Technical and vocational education curriculum, 4. Teachers' opinions on curriculum transformation of technical and vocational education at secondary school level. Each chapter is rounded off with concluding remarks. The general conclusion and recommendations are given at the end of the report. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, 1997.

This study aimed to investigate if there are any possible gaps in the offering Vocational Curriculum Report 191, in terms of knowledge, skills and link to the world of work. This study was a case study of three Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges that offer Vocational Curriculum Report 191, and it was geographically limited to the province of the Eastern Cape. The five main findings from this study were that firstly, the curriculum offers theory without practice. Secondly, there is a mismatch between what is offered as curriculum at Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges and what the labour market wants. Thirdly, lecturers do not have the practical exposure that relates to their fields of study. Fourthly, Vocational Curriculum Report 191 does not promote self-employment of its students and lastly, the curriculum is outdated and does not comply with the criteria of current employment opportunities. The study recommends that the curriculum be reviewed and revised. Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges need to have in site practice facilities to cater for the practical application of theoretical knowledge of students. Partnerships between Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges, the labour market and Sector Education and Training Authorities are strongly recommended in this study.

This case study examines influences on the selection and delivery of knowledge in the employment preparation provision of a trade union in British Columbia. Bernstein's theories of curricular code and Bourdieu's perspectives on social and cultural capital are used to analyse data collected by interviews, observation, and documentary analysis. The emergent themes are organisational structure, pedagogic practice, diversity and difference, and the good employee ideal, with each of these demonstrating the tension between the philosophical orientation of the organisation, as a representative of the labour movement, and the demands of the funding and policy structures within which it operates. Analysis illustrates the way curriculum is shaped by forces external to the immediate educational setting, the most pervasive being the requirement to function as an effective means of transferring cultural and social capital to unemployed people. The possibility of using employment preparation as a mechanism to achieve progressive ends is severely limited by the need to acknowledge the priorities of funders, administrators, learners, and the neo-liberal backdrop against which the programs operate. The study implies approaches to curriculum emphasising decisions taken by instructors and learners mask wider structural influences on knowledge formation, and more research on the sociology of knowledge in adult education is called for. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

No description available.

This study investigated the following with regard to technical-occupational students in a multi-campus urban community college: The enrollment patterns in required general education courses at specific intervals of course work; the relation between successful completion of certain required general education courses (English and mathematics) and academic success as measured by grade point average; and the profiles or basic characteristics (age, GPA, sex, and high school graduation status) of (a) the student who had completed a specified amount of general education course work and (b) the graduate who had attained a higher grade point average in technical course work than in general education course work. The data was obtained from the academic records of 328 current student, selected by established criteria, and 284 graduates of six technical-occupational programs. The six programs were chosen by pairs to represent white-collar, technical-skilled, and blue-collar oriented occupations. Data on enrollment patterns were analyzed according to percentage in frequency distributions. Differences in mean grade point averages for completers and non-completers of English and mathematics were analyzed using the t-test. Significant variance among the groups representing types of occupations was analyzed using the chi-square test for independence. The Pearson Product Moment test was used to investigate correlations between grade point average and amount of general education work completed. Among the major findings were the following: over 57 per cent of the current students had completed general education requirements at a level proportional to their total program enrollments; current students tended to avoid enrollment in English more than in mathematics; current students who had completed mathematics had a higher mean GPA than those who had not completed mathematics; graduates who completed mathematics during the first half of the program had a higher mean GPA than those who completed mathematics later; a negative correlation was detected between GPA and the amount of general education course work completed; and more than 81 per cent of the graduates had a higher GPA in technical course work than in general education course work.

"The survey of commercial job opportunities in the City of McAllen, Texas, was undertaken for the purpose of determining: 1. The numerical importance of training for the different kinds of local commercial positions. 2. The desired age, sex, training, and experience for employees in the different commercial positions of the City. 3. Information to be used in the revision of the commercial curriculum of the McAllen Senior High School and in the vocational guidance of students, and in the placement of graduates. 4. The importance and kinds of office equipment in general use locally. 5. The means by which employers of the City of McAllen, Texas, obtain commercial employees. A local survey seemed desirable in order to understand the local situation and needs in regard to commercial courses offered in the high school, and to revise the commercial curriculum intelligently."--leaf 1.

This study survey all ROP's in the State. It determined the degree to which the ROP's were meeting the changing need for enhancing and utilization vocation educational programs to meet the mandates of ̲S̲ec̲oṉḏ ṯ̲o Ṉ̲oṉ̲e.