TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN IRAN'S 4TH DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Technical & vocational education evolution trend throughout the world indicates that this type of non-formal educations has always been specifically crucial and outstanding to politicians and development planners owing to its high individual and social economic output as well as owing to the important role it plays in growth and development of societies. To cite a proof, one could refer to inclusion of these non-formal educations in the development plans of countries and allocation of hefty budgets for implementing such educations. In line with plans, policies, strategies and activities of such non-formal educations, Iran's Technical and Vocational Education Organization was established in 1980 by merging Vocational Training Centers, Internship Fund, Internship Centers and "human resources studies"- related departments in Iran's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs . The new institution held the responsibilities and functions of such non-formal educations. Iran's 4rh Development Plan, which emphasizes on Knowledge-Based Economy, has paid considerable attention to this type of educations especially in A-H clauses of Article 55 of the Plan. It obligates the government to expand this type of educations so as to modify educational pyramid of labor force, to increase the capabilities of human capitals, to tighten the gap between knowledge and skill level of Iran's labor force and that of global standards an at last to generate the job opportunities. Therefore, this paper tries to review the Technical &Vocational Education in Iran's 4th Development Plan period.