What was the Abott-Wood report (1937)

Anika Sharma
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. Abott 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 Abott 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:
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.
5. For general and vocational education there should be separate schools, as the purpose of the two is different.
6. Skilful 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.
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.

What was the Abott-Wood report (1937)

Dec 12 2015 by Lorena Waters Share
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. Abott 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 Abott
Report did. However, the latter one cant be ignored, as it has its own importance. Below we give a brief
summary point wise of this report: Vocational education should be organized according to the needs of various
vocational areas. No vocational area should be considered less important.
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