An investigatiion into the place of business education in the scheme of pre-vocational studies in Sri lanka

Abstract

There had been since the inception of the educational reforms in Sri Lanka, i n 1972, a controversy over the ol^im of business'studi to the status of Pre-voc-tional studies. The c r i t i c s denied both the adeauacy of AftAttal s k i l l s in, s i well as the potency of Business studies to sh'>pe new social " t t i t i d e s . The writer decided to investigate there issues. The investigation of these issues led the writer to also elucidate the theory *nd practice of Pre-voc t i o n il education. This was necessitated ~s the subject of Pre-voctlonal e d u c t i o n had not been researched upon previously. The theoretical study formed the f i r s t stege of this dissertation while the second •tags consisted of a study of the practice of Pre-voc tional education with s p e c i ^ l reference to Business study. Various publicnt ons both l o c a l r>nd fo ei; n formed the source for stn^re 1 of this study whioh consisted of the following M o t i o n s I **«**«•**"' s K i l l s Cor f,3uff p o t e n t l y Jus • Review of the objectives of Pre-voc tional education. An analysis of the concept of Pre-voc-a t i o n a l eduction. A comparative 3tudy of this concept. A study of the psychology of manual s k i l l s, A discussion of the philosophical concepts, A review of the organisation of Pre-voc tional eduction i n S r i Lnnk :. A discussion of the system of evaluation in S r i Lanka. The writer usi g interview and questionnaire techniques investi."'ted the practice of P r e - v o c t i o c l Business studies in IV the schools of S r i Links. The dote, thus collected were a n a l y s e d under six herds or nreas. The following conclusions were arriv d •>t i n respect of gener-1 trends. 1 . The pupils and t e " c h r r 3 had not adequately grasped the 'ohjeclives* of Pre-vocetional eduction. 2. The pupils, teachers and education o ficers had f - i l e d to comprehend Both the me-nin^ and the dimensions of the concept of manual s k i l l. 3. The methods of teaching advocated by the Curriculum Development Centre ns outlined i n the Teacher ' Guide, had not been followed by te-chers. Am F a c i l i t i e s re-uired for the proper te-ching of the subject were not av l i a b l e in the schools. 5. The Pre-vocet onal Business studies course lacked manual s k i l l s to „sufficiently j u s t i f y i t s status as a Pre-voc tion"l subject. 6, There appeared to have been a f"vour-ble trend in respect of the development of s o c i a l s k i l ls ->nd attitudes. ? , 1 The findings were interpreted bearing in mind the l i m i t a tions of this study. Some implications as v e i l as r e n t e d problems have also been i d e n t i f i e d for further research. Though tbi study reveals the formation of favourable attitudes in respect of s o c i a l s k i l l s and attitudes, i t e n n o t be attributed to the prevocation commerce su ject only, *s the teaching of other prevocetionel subjects ^lso could have contributed. However, i t i s beyond the scope of this study to deline-te any such interactive effect,