The Abbot-Wood Report of 1937 was commissioned by the Government of India to make recommendations for vocational education in the country. The report suggested establishing separate junior and senior vocational schools with multi-year programs. It recommended that vocational education be considered equal to literary and science education and that schools be located near vocational centers when possible. The report also proposed part-time vocational classes for workers and establishing vocational advisors in each province to improve relationships between education and vocations. However, the Abbot-Wood Report was not comprehensive and the more detailed Sargent Report of 1944 was published using it as a basis.
2. INTRODUCTION
The absence of adequate and proper vocational education was being felt in India and the public was
raising its demand for it since long. Therefore, the Government of India invited in 1936-37 two British
experts to come India and prepare a plan for vocational education in the country. These two experts were
A. Abbot and S.H. Wood.
These two persons toured in Punjab, Delhi and U.P and prepared a
report on vocational education within four months. This report was neither comprehensive nor
successful. On the basis of this report the Sargent Report of 1944 was published.
The Sargent Report presented a more detailed plan of vocational
education than the Abbot Report did. However, the latter one cannot be ignored, as it has its own
importance. Below we give a brief summary point wise of this report:
3. RECOMMENDATION OF ABBOT
WOOD REPORT
1. Vocational education should be organized according to the needs of various
vocational areas. No vocational area should be considered less important.
2. In the organization of vocational education the main regional vocations should be
especially considered.
3. Vocational education should be considered at par with literary and science education
and its standard should be raised.
4. Vocational education should be considered as complementary to other types of
education.
4. CONTINUE
5. For general and vocational education there should be separate schools, as the purpose of the
two is different.
6. Skillful workers engaged in small industries should also be given proper vocational training.
7. In each province a Vocational Education Advisors’ Council should be established for
developing healthy relationship between vocational education and various vocations.
8. There should be two types of schools for vocational education. The first should be the junior
vocational school and the second senior vocational school. In the junior school after class VIII
there should be three years’ course for vocational education. In the senior there should be two
years’ vocational educations after the class XI. The junior vocational school should be
considered at par with a high school and the senior one should be at par with an intermediate
college.
5. CONTINUE
9. In certificate to be awarded after passing a vocational course, there should be a clear mention
of the quality of work done by the candidate during the period of vocational training.
10. As far as possible, vocational school should be established near vocational centers.
11. Part-time classes should be opened for persons engaged in various vocations. The workers
should be given training in vocational schools for 2-1/2 days per week and they should be given
full wages for these 2-1/2 days. In part-time schools provision should be made for training
during day time.
12. The Government should open vocational institutions in big cities and big vocational centres.