Credentialing the High School.

N

39

College Bound Students; Credentials; Employment Qualifications; Equal Education; Foreign Countries; High Schools; Job Skills; Vocational Education

In Canada, as in other countries, there has been increasing interest in developing the employability skills of students during compulsory education. While the notion of certifying skills does not necessarily translate into greater interest in differentiating the high school credential, the number of credentials offered in Alberta high schools has grown in recent years. This paper examines the increased interest in credentialing the Alberta high school focusing on these trends and their probable effect. Theoretical influences behind the credentialing trend are outlined, and a number of academic and vocational credentials are described in terms of why they were introduced, enrollment patterns, students targeted, and students served. The concluding sections draw on theoretical writings to analyze credentialing initiatives and their effects. The examination suggests that introducing new vocational credentials to make the high school diploma more relevant for certain groups of students does little to challenge hierarchical social relations in spite of progressive rhetoric. Suggestions are made for making forms of closure based on high school credentials more equitable. (Contains 26 endnotes and 25 references.) (SLD)

2002

ED464148