UNIT I
UNIT I
WORK EDUCATION – Definition , Historical Perspective , Concept and Objectives
Definition of Work Education : - Work Education is viewed as purposive and meaningful manual work , organized as integral part of the learning process and resulting into goods or services useful to the community , besides the pleasure of selffulfillment . It should be an essential component at all stages of education and must be provided through a well-structured and graded programme . The competencies to be developed in this field should include knowledge , understanding skills and values through need-based life activities .
Major categories of work , which need to be specifically stressed include :
a ) Work pertaining to the needs of individual , such as health , hygiene , clothing , cleanliness , etc ;
b ) Work at home to be performed as a member of the family ;
c ) Work in the classroom , school and in the out of school activities integrated with school life ;
d ) Work as a learning experience through other subjects such as physical education , art education , social studies , science and others ;
e ) Work in the community focused on selfless service ;
f ) Work relating to vocational development , production , social usefulness and exploration of the opportunities and care pathways .
Historical Perspective
Over the past fifty years in our country and especially in the last twenty years or so , there has been an increasing appreciation of the need to include work as a vital component at all stages of school education . This has its roots in the perceptions about work education as a powerful means of restoring respect and dignity to all types of manual work , removing distinctions between manual workers and white collar workers , promoting self-reliance in meeting one ’ s daily needs and those of the society , increasing productivity through the development of proper work skills and values , and accelerating the process of economic development in the country through community service and social work by students .
1