GENERAL VERSUS SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL VERSUS LIBERAL EDUCATION

GENERAL VERSUS SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL VERSUS LIBERAL EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION:

                                          Education may be defined as a purposive ,conscious,  psychological, sociological,scientific and philosophical process which brings about the development of the individual to the fullest extent and also the maximum development of society in  such a way that both enjoy maximum happiness and prosperity. In short education is the development of individual according to his needs and demands of society of which he is an integral part.Hence the modern concept of education seeks to develop the inherent capacities of a child in the social environment.

General versus Specific Education

       General education is the minimal education required by an individual to satisfy all his various needs. It aims at developing the general qualities of the child.

                Specific education is trains the child to pursue some specific profession or job. The modern age is a period of specialization.

                              General education is more liberal while specific education is comparatively narrow. It is not so closely connected with the development or the person’s general personality and character. This is the task of general education. Specific education is spread over a long period of time and is often centered is specialized institutions such as medical colleges ,engineering colleges technical institutions,etc.

              The primary responsibility of general education teachers is to use their skills to instruct students in curricula dictated by the school system. The primary responsibility of special education teachers is to provide instruction by adapting and developing materials to match the learning styles. Strengths and special needs of each of their students. In special education situations ,individual learners needs often dictate the curricula.

           General educators bring content specializations , Special education teachers brings assessment and adaptation specializations. Both bring training and experience in teaching techniques and learning process.

                     Special education how ever is a part of the whole, it is dependent on the quality philosophy and diversity of the total educational programs for meeting the needs of all students and cannot be viewed in isolation from general education.

                      Team teaching between a special education teachers and a general education teacher is one method used to provide effective educational opportunities for students with disabilities within general education classes. Each teachers in a team teaching situation brings unique developing and delivering instruction. The special education teacher’s primary focus must be on ensuring special education services are implemented for students.

GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ON SCHOOL CURRICULAM

              One important issue about school curriculum is that should all the students be provided an differentiated curriculum or a differentiation be made according to ability , interest and aptitude. Those who are the supporters of undifferentiated curriculum they argue that up to a certain age level depending up on the circumstances of the state or country all the students should be taught the same subject which are universally accepted as core subjects for school  education. They include mother tongue one or two other languages, mathematics, science, social science, art and health and physical education is the core subjects. They consider education in these subjects as general education and do not permit any elective.

                           On the other hand those who are In favoure of specialization, they argue that students should be grouped according to ability, interest and aptitude and these groups should be provided education which suits to their needs and place in society. They argue that there are vast differences in abilities and aptitudes not only the students will get the benefits but the task of teacher will be easier because he will be teaching homogenous groups. They call it as specialization.

VOCATIONAL VERSUS LIBERAL EDUCATION

       There are several differing concept and meaning of traditional practices and the meaning of terms used and their implications. One such concept is that vocational education is the education or training or workers. This concept implies that any kind of education or training in which worker participate is vocational education.

                     Another concept is that vocational education is the education for manual work. This concept centers  on the ideas of ability to work with hands rather than mind with a curriculum of certain manual activities like leather work , wood work, mental work ,drawing work,etc.

            The term general education is also known as liberal education. Different concept of the relationship of general education and vocational education are there. Mostly they arise from differences in educational philosophy. Some educationist and administrators content is that best preparation for a vocation. They advocate that courses In such areas  as general agriculture domestic scene and  general business provide appropriate education or training for both general and vocational needs and be included in the general and vocational needs and be included in the general educational subjects.

             However vocational educators differ on the points that courses designed this way do not provide education for the specific competencies needed in preparing for a vocation. These educators contend that causes of a specific nature as well as those of general nature are needed in education of workers.

             In a democratic system of education they believe every citizen should have the opportunity as part of his training for both types of education.

                In the present day situation general education and vocational education are major divisions of the total education process. Each of them is of equal importance and both of them are necessary in the education of workers. Vocational education curriculum should be for the total life span of an individual and across all learning environments of his or her life space or it should be for entry level skill training which constitutes a central part of total education.

                    This suggests that general education and vocational education have much to contribute to each other and to the total education process. Both general and vocational educations should therefore strive to achieve the proper co-ordination of these two divisions of educations of education with in the total education with in the total education process.