THE CONSENSUS OF OUR NATION'S LEADERS AFFIRMS THAT THE COUNTRY'S GREATEST TECHNICAL EDUCATION VOID IS IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE 12TH GRADE AND THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREE. THE IMPACT OF ACCELERATED PROGRESS IN TECHNOLOGICAL ACHIEVEMENTS MAKES TECHNICAL EDUCATION MANDATORY IF THE MANPOWER SHORTAGE IS NOT TO BECOME A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. BECAUSE NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF THE EDUCABLE YOUTH DO NOT PURSUE EDUCATION AT OR BEYOND THE BACCALAUREATE LEVEL, IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE FOR THE WORLD OF WORK WHICH DEMANDS SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND UPDATED TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES. NEW JERSEY NEEDS (1) COUNTY-OPERATED AREA VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS WITH DIVERSIFIED AND BALANCED CURRICULUMS PRESCRIBED BY INDUSTRY'S PLACEMENT DEMANDS, (2) PUBLICALLY CONTROLLED 2-YEAR COUNTY TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WITH CURRICULUMS LEADING TO THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE, AND (3) UTILIZATION OF THESE FACILITIES BY ADULTS WHO NEED TRAINING, UPGRADING, OR RETRAINING. ACCOMPANYING CHARTS SHOW (1) TECHNICAL EDUCATION ENROLLMENTS FROM 1960 TO 1965, (2) MANIPULATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND GENERAL EDUCATION SKILLS NEEDED BY CRAFTSMEN, TECHNICIANS, AND ENGINEERS, (3) SCHOOLS IN NEW JERSEY PRESENTLY OFFERING TECHNICAL CURRICULUMS, (4) ORIENTATION OF EDUCATIONAL LEVELS THROUGH GRADE 12, AND (5) ORIENTATION OF COUNTY COLLEGE EDUCATION IN NEW JERSEY. (EM)