Career and Technical Education

Vocational training, or career and technical education (CTE), is designed to improve the skills and abilities of those in the workforce, particularly in trades and other industries requiring prior training such as construction, welding, tourism, floral arranging, retail, sewing and embroidery, carpentry, farming, cosmetology, plumbing and lapidary.¹ In 2013, the Los Angeles School District cut funding for the majority of its Career and Technical Education courses for its over 600,000 students; the district previously had automobile and aviation maintenance, audio engineering, real estate and photography programs. Sixty eight percent of high school graduates do not attend college, and 37 percent of college graduates are currently in careers they could have acquired with just a high school diploma.² Students participating in CTE programs can often receive certifications in their respective fields, enabling them to enter the workforce immediately post-graduation.³ Europe, the United States, China and Taiwan all heavily utilize CTE in their respective education systems.⁴ Europe’s Post-16 Skills Plan was implemented to give students equal access to both vocational and post-secondary career paths via the education system.⁵