201. Secondary Schools and the Transition To Work in Latin America and the Caribbean. Sustainable Development Department Technical Papers Series.
- Author
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Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC., Castro, Claudio de Moura, Carnoy, Martin, and Wolff, Laurence
- Abstract
U.S. and European models of delivering secondary education were examined to identify ways of improving Latin American and Caribbean secondary schools and easing Latin American and Caribbean students' transition from school to work. The following delivery options were considered: (1) separate job training from formal secondary education; (2) move technical education to the postsecondary level; (3) create tracks within formal secondary education; (4) develop a single national curriculum with electives; (5) build academics into vocational subjects; (6) blend office technology into academics; and (7) maintain a few elite secondary technical schools that are closely linked with industry. The following were among the conclusions that emerged from the analysis: (1) the traditional structure of secondary education is obsolete; (2) because of the diverse situations and cultural traditions existing in the countries of Latin American and the Caribbean, there is no single model of secondary education that can be recommended for all countries in the region; (3) many new alternatives include a progressive separation of vocational preparation from academic streams; (4) regardless of their level and regardless of whether they have ties with academic studies, the most successful technical schools are closely tied to industry; and (5) in all cases, more emphasis must be placed on solving problems rather than on memorizing facts and theories. (Contains 17 references) (MN)
- Published
- 2000