Vocational Education Centers from a Holistic Perspective

Vocational education is crucial for integrating students into the workforce by transforming theoretical knowledge into practice and developing job habits, knowledge, and skills in a specific professional field. This study aims to identify the reasons why students in vocational education choose Vocational Education Centers (VEC). The study was conducted using a phenomenological design. The study group consisted of school administrators, teachers, current students, students' parents, and the workplaces where they receive training in vocational schools with VEC practices in a city in eastern Türkiye during the 2023-2024 academic year. This study was conducted with a total of 32 participants, including eight school administrators, eight teachers, ten students, three parents, and three business representatives. As a result, it was revealed that during the transition phase to VEC, misinformation was provided, and the primary purpose of the practice was perceived not as vocational training but more as social aid distribution. It was also found that competition emerged due to the imposition of quotas on provinces and schools, and those schools used various methods to increase student enrollment. An important factor identified for students transitioning to VEC was the desire to earn financial gain.