Vocational Education and Training Reform: Matching Skills to Markets and Budgets

Governments often expect more from their vocation education and training (VET) systems than the systems have been able to provide. These high expectations have resulted in heavy government involvement in VET. However, the exaggerated expectations and overly involved governments appear to be responsible for the disappointments that have plagued VET in many countries. Some countries are now realizing that demands from the VET systems may have been unrealistic and that the government's heavy involvement may be unnecessary. Based on the experiences of countries worldwide, Vocational Education and Training Reform examines the constraints they face in implementing VET and related policies; analyzes how some countries have successfully implemented reforms; and evaluates VET reforms in central and eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and other countries in transition to a market economy, such as China. This book is a joint production of the World Bank and the International Labour Office. A copublication of the World Bank and Oxford University Press.