Skills Development: Vocational Education
in the Islamic Countries
26
1.6.2. Key Factors towards Overcoming TVET Challenges
Table1.3 : Relationship between challenges and opportunities involved
1.6.3. Setting TVET at the Core of Education
Policymakers have suggested incorporation of TVET in school reforms. According to National
Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE), a number of research have confirmed the
benefits of having TVET programs in secondary schools for USA students. Recent research has
also acknowledged the fact that involving TVET in secondary school levels motivate students to
stay at school which can also possibly reduce the level of dropouts (DeLuca, Plank, & Estacion,
2006). According to DeLuca et al. (2006), there is higher level of school dropouts in general
education than in Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) which is as a result of
students being very much involved and motivated to remain at school. Therefore, by
incorporating TVET courses at the core of general education, high number of enrolment and less
number of school dropout can be curbed.
1.6.4. Funding in TVET Sector
USA has renewed its interest in investing in TVET sector due to shortage of skilled manpower. A
number of initiatives such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are
beginning to involve TVET in the fundingmodels in USA. Zirkle and Martin (2012) noted in his
writings that individual school are trying to shift some of their budget to financing pre -
apprenticeship programs. Also private organizations and professional industry associations
have also exhibited support in TVET sector at all levels in USA. This has helped the TVET sector
to improve in the quality of graduates produced by TVET institutions.
1.6.5. Teacher Opportunities
In USA TVET teachers have received considerably high salary as compared to their counterparts
in academic discipline in an effort to motivate and increase the number of qualified TVET
teachers. Thismeasurewas taken because of the high demand of TVET instructors in both TVET
institutions and in general education sector with aspects of technical skill courses. This has
highlymotivated the TVET instructors and has also led to increase in the number of quality TVET
teachers.
Challenges Opportunities
Negative public perception towards TVET Government promoting TVET at the core of general
education. This will attract students towards
acquiring technical skills
Mismatch between training and labor
market skill demand
Provision of industrial attachment to both trainers
and trainees. Trainers will improve on their skill
competence with which they can share with their
students and students industrial attachment will
grant them access to authentic industrial skills
Inadequate funding Through directing national funds towards TVET
sector and local schools increasing their budget for
organizing skill trainings
Low quality training Through the secured funds, institutions can grant
profession development to instructors as well as
purchasing enough training equipment to enhance
skills