ABSTRACT
Many countries are currently reconsidering their education and training arrangements in the light of economic, social and personal factors. For too long vocational education has been a poor second to general/academic education. Ellis (1995) notes that ‘the talents of thousands of young people are being wasted because educational systems measure only academic success and not practical, creative or interpersonal skills’ (p. 84). Contemporary efforts to develop vocational education are emphasizing access, flexibility and relevance. To date, the endeavours are very encouraging and warrant close examination.
