Over the last thirty years there has been a vigorous debate on the role of vocational education in developing societies. Critics have asserted that vocational education cannot deliver the economic and social benefits claimed for it. Despite the debate vocational education has continued to expand. India has followed the example of other developing societies with national plans for the extensive implementation of a programme of vocational education at the higher secondary level. The target was that by 1995 25% of the students in higher secondary education should be in the vocational stream. However progress has been slow and there has been considerable variation between states. In order to examine the problems of implementing vocational education this study examines the progress made in one state, Gujarat. It draws on examination of official statistics, documents and interviews with officials. The major part of the study is a comprehensive survey of the perceptions of the major stakeholders in vocational education - the Principals, the Teachers, the Students, Ex-students and Employers. The thesis examines the implications of the findings for the broad debate on the role of higher secondary vocational education in developing societies and more specifically for developments in India and Gujarat. A series of recommendations relating to areas such as the selection of schools and vocational courses, their management structure and staffing and their curriculum are made.