You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Many people go to university for academic study. More people should be encouraged to do vocational training because there is a lack of qualified workers such as electricians and plumbers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer
It is true that many people prefer to pursue academic studies at university rather than to follow a vocational training course. While nobody can deny the need for university graduates, I totally agree that we should encourage more people to qualify as electricians, plumbers or other essential manual workers.
There are two important reasons why more workers must be trained in skilled professions such as plumbing or electrical work. Firstly, such workers are vital when new buildings are constructed or when existing buildings have to be renovated or simply maintained. Indeed, in many countries, a permanent maintenance staff of skilled tradesmen is employed in hospitals, schools or museums, ensuring the safety of all who use the buildings. Secondly, in some developed countries, there is an existing imbalance in the economy, resulting in graduate unemployment, while at the same time there is a shortage of skilled labour. Governments in those countries need, therefore, to work with employers to ensure that extra vocational training is provided.
More people must be encouraged to attend vocational training courses. [1] The onus is on schools to incorporate relevant subjects into the curriculum, so that not all the emphasis is placed on preparation for academic study at university. Many boys and girls are not academically inclined, but this does not mean that schools should consider them as failures. For example, workshops in schools could provide an opportunity to learn ‘hands- on skills’, adapting the theory of the physics lessons to practical applications. [2] Parents should also help their children to choose vocational careers, explaining the good employment prospects and remuneration for manual workers with qualifications and skills
In conclusion, I agree that it is vital that we encourage more people to do vocational training because without such skilled workers, society cannot function effectively.
279 words
Vocab Highlights
vocational training: training in the skills and knowledge that you need in order to do a particular job
manual work: a type of work in which you use you use your hands and your physical strength.
renovate: to repair something so that it is in good condition again.
tradesmen: skilled men, especially those who work with their hands in some professions. A woman is referred to as a ‘tradesperson’.
imbalance: a situation in which two things are not the same size, in a way that causes problems.
onus: the responsibility or duty to do something
to incorporate sth into sth: to add or include something as part of something else
academically inclined: having natural artistic, technical, etc ability
hands-on skills: skills got from doing something rather than just reading about it or seeing it being done
practical applications: the use of something for a reasonable purpose
employment prospects: the probability or chance for future success in a profession
remuneration: money paid for work or a service