VOCATIONAL TRAINING VERSUS DEGREE

Vocational Training versus University Degree

by Natalie Zimmelman

When a young person is faced with deciding what to do after matric, it is certainly a huge, life changing decision all on its own. Statistics show that only 10% of young people that do achieve a matric certificate gain a university exemption and thus entry into university. Even more worrying, of those who do manage to get into university, barely half end up with a degree.

So what lies ahead for those of you who have completed matric? Questions you are probably pondering could include what skills are in short supply in the economy, such as accounting, and does that match with what you want to do as a profession. Do you study further to acquire these skills at university or apply directly for internships and vocational on-the-job training programmes?

Benefits and challenges of university

For those who gain university exemption the benefits of an academic qualification at university are great. It teaches traditional skills of essay writing and research. Additionally, if you decide to live on campus, you learn to live and work with others, often far from home. But the challenges are also significant.

The so called perceived prospect of better job opportunities and a supposed higher standard of living when you have a university degree (which is not necessarily true) lead many families to make significant sacrifices in order to provide a university education.
Another concern is that despite several long years of study, learners are rarely prepared for the practicalities of the working world, requiring much coaching and on-the-job training when they do secure a job.
University alternative – vocational training
Competence-based (or vocational) training is an alternative for those whose marks preclude them from going to university or who wish to start working as soon as possible. This form of training is a way of teaching learners not only the critical knowledge needed in their area of speciality, but also how to apply this knowledge in a work environment.  It is a practical means of learning, where you learn HOW to do things rather than just WHAT to do.

 SOURCE:
http://www.wealthwisemag.com