MISION COOPERATIVA PARA LA PLANIFICACION EDUCACIONAL-- FINAL REPORT. (JULY 1974-JAN 1975)

RESEARCH CENTERED ON THE PROBLEMS OF (1) INCREASING JOB SKILL TRAINING FOR MID-LEVEL WORKERS, (2) IMPROVING NON-FORMAL TRAINING TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS, (3) THE MARKETABILITY OF BACHILLERATO DIVERSIFICADO (BD) HOLDERS, AND (4) COORDINATED PLANNING BETWEEN INDUSTRY, BUSINESS, AND EDUCATION. SINCE EL SALVADOR"S ECONOMY IS PROJECTED TO GROW MODESTLY, DEMAND FOR SKILLED AND SEMI-SKILLED LABOR WILL ALSO GROW IN AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS OTHER SECTORS. MIGRATION OUT OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR WILL INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN COMMERCIAL AND SERVICE SECTORS. EXISTING EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE EXPECTED TO FALL 3000 GRADUATES SHORT OF ANNUAL LABOR DEMAND. CONSIDERING THE POOR QUALITY OF MANY TRAINING PROGRAMS, THE SHORTAGE OF ADEQUATELY SKILLED WORKERS WILL BE HIGHER THAN 3000. SINCE APPROXIMATELY HALF THE LABOR FORCE WILL REMAIN IN AGRICULTURE BY 1981, MASSIVE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION EXPANSION WILL BE NEEDED. MOST BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES QUESTIONED INDICATED A NEED FOR INITIAL TRAINING OR RE-TRAINING OF MID-LEVEL EMPLOYEES. MINI-COURSES ORGANIZED AROUND SINGLE SKILL AREAS WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY IF EMPLOYING MODERN PERFORMANCE CRITERIA AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, AND IF OPERATING IN CLOSE RELATION TO INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS. MOST NON-FORMAL TRAINING COULD BE PROVIDED AT THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT TO AVOID EXCESSIVE EXPENDITURE. BD PROGRAMS SUFFER A LACK OF LINKAGE WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, AND OPERATE WITHOUT CAREER GUIDANCE PROGRAMS. THEY COULD EXPAND BY ESTABLISHING REGIONAL POST-SECONDARY, TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTERS THAT COULD BROADEN THE SCOPE OF EXISTING PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY AGRIBUSINESS. MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO FORM A NATIONAL INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION TRAINING COUNCIL, EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE BD PROGRAM, AND ENGAGE IN EMPLOYMENT GENERATING ACTIVITIES IN THE RURAL SECTOR.