Title: The role of vocational education and technical training in economic growth: a case of Botswana

Authors: Christopher Mupimpila, N. Narayana

Addresses: Department of Economics, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB 705, Gaborone, Botswana. ' Department of Economics, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB 705, Gaborone, Botswana

Abstract: Over time, there has been a significant rise in vocational education and technical training in Botswana. This article shows that there is a positive and significant relationship between economic growth and vocational education and technical training in the country. However, job creation in the formal sector is limited, given the size of the domestic market. It is necessary that the expansion of vocational and technical training should be accompanied with appreciable growth in employment in the formal sector. Botswana should produce for the regional market in Southern Africa in order to circumvent the smallness of the domestic market. Outward-looking, export production can loosen the most binding constraints to economic growth with structural change in the country.

Keywords: vocational education; technical training; human capital; economic growth; structural change; formal sector; Botswana; job creation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2009.028935

International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2009 Vol.1 No.1, pp.3 - 13

Published online: 14 Oct 2009 *

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