DEMAND FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FROM YOUTH IN URBAN LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN COLOMBO DISTRICT

Abstract

The subject of this study is the demand for vocational education from youth in urban low income families. The central focus of this study is to examine the rela-tionship among student-specific factors such as gender, academic performance, career awareness and socio-economic factors and as well as identifying the rea-sons for lesser enrollment for vocational training and education by youth in ur-ban low income communities.

The research was conducted using two-part survey instrument containing ques-tions related to demographics and questions related to vocational education. This study was helpful in illuminating the contradictions in youth demand for voca-tional education. A hypothesis was tested relative to the relationship between student personal factors and demand for vocational education. Demographic fac-tors were related to youth’s image on vocational education, with socio-economic status most appreciable among the several predictors. Correlation analysis was used as a method of statistical evaluation on this study, to test the strength of the relationship between indicators of the theory of planned behavior and of the de-mand for vocational education from urban youth in low-income communities.

The study reflects that there is a less demand for enrollment in vocational educa-tion from urban youth. The finding dictate the root causes as, the lack of motiva-tion from parents and family, less awareness regarding vocational educational training programs, high tendency in youth to engage in easy and fast money earning activities, the lack of awareness of how important skilled labour market is, the reluctance to spend a period of training and the reluctance to leave easy and fast earning jobs. There is a gap between the community and government officers who are responsible for providing relevant public service for them.

Keywords

• Vocational education,Urban Youth

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