Two main factors have led to an explosion of interest in and use of distance learning in technical and vocational education:

• The growing need for continual skills upgrading and retraining
• The technological advances that have made it possible to teach more and more subjects at a distance.

Distance teaching has been developed for initial training, upgrading, and retraining of skilled workers. Workplace training is one of the fastest growing areas in distance teaching.

Distance education programs also have frequently been used to meet the growing need to help teachers in the field increase their instructional rather than their technical skills.

More on technical and vocational education

 

Wyngaard, A. 1999.  Quality education by means of a combination of distance education, co-operative education and community colleges Paper presented at the 1st National NADEOSA Conference held 11-13 August 1999

 

Mlazi, L. 1990. Student Tutors and Instructors Expectations and Perceptions of Distance Education Courses in Science and Technology: A Case Study of Vocational Training by Correspondence in Tanzania. Research paper.