From a capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism point of view the link between education and the economy is a capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism and a clear one. For instance directly after World War Two when there was a shortage of capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism in Britain the school leaving age was only 15 because young peoples' labour power was needed to rebuild the capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism.
Later as economic circumstances and pressures changed the school leaving age was raised to 16 and new capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism were introduced as new skills were needed in the economy. New capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism from a functionalist perspective can be seen as an example of this process

However from a Marxist perspective the link between education and the capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism is less positive. The education system is seen to mirror the conflicts and divisions of capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism society. As part of the superstructure schools therefore organise themselves to capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism class divisions. Students are streamed and selected on class lines and the purpose of education for the majority is to create a compliant, capitalisteconomyfunctionalistlabourobedientperpetuatepositivequalificationsVocationalism and docile working class. New Vocationalism can be seen from a Marxist perspective as an example of this process