Assessing the Effectiveness of Vocational Education and Training in Economic Development

Abstract

Education in general is considered and its effect on economic and human development is questioned via the Human Development Index criteria. Education as an investment to human capital is discussed. Secondly, the demand for highly skilled workers and the relation between employment and new technologies are analyzed. The high rate of unemployment of educated youth is a disadvantage for economic and social stability. The importance of vocational education in overcoming this unemployment problem is discussed. Third, the Turkish and German economies and education systems in particular are compared. In Turkey, there is an increase in the number of university graduates but also there is an increase in the number of unemployed educated young people. In this perspective school-based education, a dual system in which school-based education is combined with firm-based training and informal training is explained. The German system is investigated with a view to obtain clues for an efficient education system.