In Some Countries at Secondary or High School

In some countries at secondary or high school, there may be two streams of study: academic or vocational. What are the advantages for students and society of putting students into two streams at the age of fifteen?

Choices made in high school determine the future of students. So a careful analysis is required before opting for one. Some people think that students should focus only on job oriented training which is also called vocational. In contrast, others argue that they should study a broad range of subjects called Academic, which will enable them to face the future with confidence. There are advantages in choosing both streams of study. 

When choosing the Academic stream, a student is exposed to a variety of subjects ranging from Languages to Arithmetic and Science. It caters to the all-round development of the student. For example, almost all foreign institutions have made English language requirements mandatory. By choosing the Academic stream, the student is laying a strong foundation for language. Additionally, the student will be given time to research and make presentations. The student would have acquired a sound theoretical knowledge.

On the other hand, vocational streams offer practical, hands-on experience to students. They get trained in their respective fields thoroughly. For example, a student of electronics will have to do assignments/projects related to his work to demonstrate his understanding. The experience thus gained makes life easier for them at the workplace. Since they have acquired all the skills, while studying, they don’t need additional training at work. So they are highly preferred by the industry. 

In conclusion, both streams are equally promising and open pathways to a bright future. The academic stream, with its expansive knowledge base and the vocational stream with its industry-targeted learning, are fairly competent in guaranteeing a good career.