ABSTRACT
Being the most literate state in India, Kerala is a forerunner in vocational education and training at all levels. Engineering graduate education started before independence, as also polytechnic education. Industries were in need of qualified people at that time for increasing productivity by diversifying outputs. It was the golden age of industries within and outside Kerala, contributing to the nation’s growth. The manpower so utilized resulted in record productivity both internally and externally. This further necessitated training manpower at young age for those who can exhibit their skill as per the design of the engineers. The skill gap could be filled with the manpower produced from secondary stage education by giving proper training. Technical High Schools (THSs) were started in Kerala with an aim to impart skill-oriented technical/vocational training at young age, enabling people to acquire proper jobs after further education. This is a unique system practiced in Kerala and can achieve good results in the country. This paper aims to study the attributes of the THS system in Kerala and its implications in the industry and in society, on the basis of which recommendations are made to other states and countries to follow this unique system in Kerala.
