EXPLORING THE RATIONALE FOR MAINSTREAMING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FROM MIDDLE CLASS: AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE SUPPORTED BY GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES

Abstract

India is facing disjunction between skill mismatch and labour market requirements. In view of this, National Education Policy 2020 was introduced aligned with need and aspirations of 21st century. This policy restructured the school education by introducing 5+3+3+4 structure. In this structure, exposure of vocational education is stared from the primary classes in the form of prevocational capacities. Formally provision of vocational education is introduced from middle class/ class 6, supported by 10 days of bagless periods, internship with local practitioners, and project based vocational skill exposure. This paper attempts to explore the economic rationale for this early mainstreaming of vocational education through cost analysis framework informed by global best practices. This study is qualitative in nature and analysed existing literature, policy documents such as NEP 2020, National Curriculum Framework for School Education (2023), Handbook for Key Functionaries on Vocational Education (NCERT), and reviews of vocational education and training (VET) systems in successful contexts such as Germany, Japan, and Switzerland. This study also presents comparative analysis of global best practice on early exposure of vocational education. Countries are chosen by purposive sampling based on their distinct but successful approaches to early vocational orientation and career education. The findings of this paper suggest that international literature supports NEP’s and NCF approach of early exposure, Introduction and integration rather than early specialization. From the economic cost-benefit standpoint, this practice represents a relatively low-cost intervention with high long-term returns. This study highlights the need for India specific longitudinal evidence to assess long term economic returns.