• Journal of vocational education research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.1-22
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine how the vocational high school teachers perceive the direction of the ideal high school vocational education when suggesting mutual contrast positions on the desirable direction of high school vocational education. 1253 teachers from 25 specialization high schools nationwide participated in the survey. Through the review of previous research, we confirmed the axis of new vocationalism, vocationalism, and humanism on the purpose of vocational education. As a result of investigating the perception of vocational high school teachers about the purpose of vocational education, they tended to recognize the purpose of high vocational education toward vocationalism. In other words, rather than acquiring transferable skills, it is important to acquire concrete skills in specific areas, and it is more important to acquire specific skills that can be utilized immediately after graduation rather than coping with the changing job world. Teachers also recognized that it is more important to organize the contents of education according to the needs of industries and companies than to construct education contents for student 's holistic development. There was also a tendency for teachers to recognize that it is important to prepare them for work immediately after graduation rather than preparing them for as wide a career choice as possible. There was a tendency for the male teacher to perceive the purpose of vocational education more pro vocationalism than the female teacher. In addition, professional subject teachers recognized more pro vocationalism than general subject teachers. As a result of the regression analysis, it was found that gender and subject(professional subject vs. general subject) were significant variables related to vocationalism. And suggested that a careful approach is needed in the policy decision making process when considering the limitations of overly vocationally oriented education and the risks of frequent changes in the purpose and direction of high school vocational education.