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Development of Vocational Education and Training in the

Republic of Moldova

Octavian Vasilachi, Chief of TVET department

Chişinău, 11 July, 2011

Ministry of Education, Republic of Moldova

Structure of Education System

2

Lyceum of Sports,

Arts profile (3 years)

Theoretical Lyceum,

Humanitarian/Real sciences

(3 years)

Secondary general education

Level Name of educational level

V

IV

III

II

I

Higher Education

Post-secondary technical/vocational

education(College)

Compulsory Education (gymnasium)

Preschool Education

Vocational lyceum (4 years)

Vocational school

(3 years)

Secondary technical/vocational education

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Main objectives

To increase the level of professional training provided by technical vocational education through:

Modernization of technical vocational education according to the Copenhagen process and labor market

Increasing the quality of education and training of competitive workers fit to meet the labor demand

Enhancing the value of human and material resources

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Current situation: educational institutions,

quotas

• There are 74 Vocational Education and Training institutions such as:

2 vocational lyceums

49 vocational schools

15 trade schools

6 trade schools within prisons

2 private vocational schools• Total quota (enrolled): 20 988 students at 85 occupations, including:

State schools: buget – 19 434 elevi (92%)

contract – 744 elevi (3,54%)

Private schools – 140 elevi (0,66%)

Prison schools – 810 elevi (3,85%)

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Human Resources : teaching and management staff

Management staff – 231 (10%) teachers of general education subjects – 502 (22%) teachers of specialty related subjects – 313 (14%) instructors – 1065 (46 %) social educators – 123 (8%)

Total – 2234 1336 holders of higher education diplomas (59%) 898 graduates of colleges and vocational schools (41%)

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Conceptual and strategic basis

Government Action Plan 2011-2014 Concept paper regarding the development of

vocational education Consolidated Strategy of education development for

2011-2015 (Order of minister of education nr. 849 dated on 29 November 2010

Consolidated Action Plan of education sector (2011-2015) (Order of minister of education nr. 849 dated on 29 November

Priority areas for training

services construction agriculture transport wood processing industry food industry  catering light industry

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Legislative Base

• Education Law

• Regulation regarding the organization of the contest for the director position in educational institution of following levels: preschool, primary, secondary, special, complimentary, vocational and tertiary education

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Normative basis:

• Regulations of organization and functioning of  vocational  and trade schools (to be revised)

• Regulations of organization and development of admission/ enrollment to  vocational education (to be revised)

• Regulations of organization of graduation examinations in connection with trainings provision in vocational education (to be revised)

• The framework plan and curricula for general education and technical subjects for vocational schools providing 3 year studies.

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Normative basis:

• Regulations regarding the functioning of VET system (to revised)

• 2 Government Decrees have been made and approved:- Decree nr. 749 dated on 18.08.2010 “Regarding the

reorganization of some VET institutions”, (rationalization of VET institution network, reorganization of 10 institutions) ;

- Decree nr. 1146 dated on 20.12.2010 “Regarding the reorganization of VET institutions” (as a pilot exercise, the activity of Vocational lyceums nr.1 and nr.2 was extended until 2013).

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Fees for accommodation in hostels

At present: Students pay just 15% out of total cost of accommodation Fees vary between 15 lei - 80 lei per month 85% out of real expenses is not covered Actions:a) A mechanism to lower the expenses for hostels maintenance is in

place, endorsed by the amendments to the Government Decree nr. 196 dated on 22.02.2007 regarding special means of the institutions under the Ministry of Education

b) Revision of accommodation fees for regular students but keeping allowances for orphans and children from vulnerable families and allocation for this purpose of additional fund from the state budget.

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Tuition fees

Tuition fees vary between 2380 lei and 4300 lei Average cost of one student covered by the state budget

in 2010 was about 15 000 lei

Actions carried out: Government Decree nr.196 dated on 22.02.2007 regarding special means of institutions under the Ministry of Education

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Schools endowment, cooperation with international projects

Period 2006 – 2008: 2006 – 2,900,000 lei, 7 schools equipped (state buget) 2007 – 3,172,000 lei, 17 schools equipped (state buget) 2008 – 1,793, 329 lei, (project CONSEPT/LED Moldova) – 9 000 € (project MolAgri/ADA, KK, ME)Period 2009 -2010: – 4,851,187 lei (project CONSEPT/LED Moldova) – 1,575,478 lei (project Hifab internaţional) – 33 640 € (project ECONET/ KulturKontakt Austria) – 141 000 € (project MolAgri/ADA, KK, ME)

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Schools endowment, cooperation with international projects

Support provided by ETF in promoting the transparency and validation of skills and qualifications, continuing education of youth and adults, developing occupational standards etc.

”Vocational schools as centre of excellence in water and sanitary sector”, funded by Austrian Development Agency

Support provided by DFID to developing vocational education policy “Support to implementation of NSD”

“HIV Prevention in Eastern Europe”, implemented by Training Centre CMB; CFA Consulting Group, Germany

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Employment of VET graduates in 2010

Total number of graduates - 13 238 Employed:

• Public enterprises - about 6023 (45%)• Private enterprises - 165 (1,2%)• Unemployed or continue their education – 7050

(53,8%)

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Issues/Challenges

• Adjustment of normative documents/papers to current needs (Regulations, Nomenclator of professions, curricula for specialty subjects, Regulations regarding the attestation of teaching staff)

• Significant discrepancy between the educational offer of technical vocational education and needs of labor market

• Upgrading of teaching staff according to the new curricula contents

• Training instructors on psycho-pedagogical and occupational modules

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Issues/Challenges

• Lack of occupational and educational standards, as well as unique requirements regarding vocational training.

• Mismatch between theory and practice within specialty curricula.

• Shortage of specialty textbooks/manuals and other teaching materials necessary for vocational training.

• Lack of manuals renting mechanism, shortage of specialty books.

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Issues/Challenges

• Outdated technical and material basis in a number of schools.

• Equipment in schools’ workshops does not match the equipment in enterprises.

• Lack of information and computerization within VET system.

• Absence of quality ensuring system.• Weak collaboration between educational institutions,

businesses and local public authorities regarding practical trainings, internship and graduates employment.

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Solutions

• Development of efficient policy leading to increase the quality of VET system adjusted to changeable economic conditions.

• Rationalization of VET institutions network.

• Promotion of modern management based on performances in VET and oriented to enhance education quality

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Solutions

• Adjust the Nomenclator of professions and occupations to the exigencies of economy sector by inserting new occupations and modernizing the existing ones

• Develop the National Qualification Framework for vocational education and training.

• Develop occupational and educational standards.

• Establishment of certification systems of VET aligned to national and European requirements.

• Setting up of a system of initial and continuing education of VET teachers.

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Solutions

• Development of local manuals and providing schools with profile books and teaching materials.

• Strengthening partnership between state, employers and trade union based on Sector Committee in all areas of vocational training.

• Increase the transparency and cooperation between educational institutions, businesses, local authority, trade unions, community in the framework of School Councils.

• Strengthening the capacity of the Republican Centre of VET Development (IES) in order to provide technical vocational education with scientific, methodological and curricula support

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Options for Reconsidering the Vocational Education

The following options for reconsidering Vocational Education are proposed (Draft Education Code):

Vocational/technical education shall be provided in:• Vocational schools ( 3 years) • Vocational lyceums (4 years)• Vocational/technical consortiums (academic

mobility with different terms programs)

Note: reorganization will be carried out gradually, depending on several factors: school’s capacity, facilities, admission, labor market demand,  working with businesses, etc.

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Vă dorim succes!