What Does it Mean to be Competent - Essay Example

The undertakings are enormous and the intensity to excel is at its best (Kincheloe 1999). This is an element of discerning success which the vocational education seekers have envisaged for their own selves with regards to their very future domains. What is even better is the fact that they know that short term educational drives would turn them into instantly successful business personnel, which would ultimately help their own cause in the long run. Vocational education is an interesting mode of learning and one that aims to build new frontiers, explore new basics and learn a thing or two about the different realms that the vocational education seekers have their hands firmly grasped upon.

It was until the 20th century that formal provision of vocational education remained confined to some specific trade areas. Among these, the automobile vendors like a mechanic and a welder remained supreme. They received vocational education in order to become successful at their trade first hand. It gave them the much-needed niche as well as a point of advantage when they were compared with the educated fraternity who also knew much the same trade. The builders, joiners, mechanics and welders were specialized in their trade and hence given the respect that they deserved (Jennings 1995).

This was transferred to other areas of business with the passage of time. However, one aspect that remained ingrained with these welders and mechanics was that they were from the lower socio-economic classes and hence not paid according to their labour and hard work that was put in, day in day out. There was a sense of stigmatization within the society when it came down to these professionals, who attained vocational education with regards to their respective work domains. In the olden times, vocational education was directly linked with apprenticeship and hence there is reason enough to believe that the two were used in an interchangeable fashion.