Education,training and the economy

Since the economic crisis of the 1970s a whole range of policy initiatives has been introduced into the general educational framework with the aim of making education more relevant to the world of work. However, the various attempts to impose an ideology of economic utility on education have met with scepticism and criticism from many people in the education sector. This paper analyses some of the conceptual differences between education and training. It discusses how these differing concepts have contributed to debates on the nature and appropriateness of present-day education and training to securing a healthy economy. Though not specific to education and training in the area of colour science and technology, many of the issues raised form a backdrop to the deliberations of the Society's educational committees.