Preparing for the world of work: 2. The American pattern

Historically, schools in the United States of America have zealously assumed the task of equipping people with the scholastic abilities to cope with life. Indeed, it is generally said that one submits to formal schooling “to get an education”. But graduates of traditional secondary school and college curricula are now asking: What work was I prepared for? Clearly something fundamental has gone wrong with the educational system. This is evidenced by US Government statistics which show that more than 2m. students leave school each year without adequate preparation for a working life. At the same time there is a shortage of skilled and semi‐skilled workers. According to the National Advisory Council on Vocational Education, millions of jobs are going begging while: