Transcript Document

Development of VET in
Estonia and the role of Skills
Competitions
Andres Pung
Ministry of Education and Research
Tallinn, 13. 05. 2008
Reforms in Estonian VET
• Began in 1996
• Action Plan for Developing Estonian VET System in
2001-2004
• Unfortunately many aims and objectives were not
realized – reorganisation of Ministry, moving to
Tartu, lack of political will etc.
• Bigger changes have taken place from 2005
• Development Plan for the Estonian Vocational
Education and Training System 2005-2008
• Good results:
Cooperation with social partners
• Significant improvement in this field
• Involvement of social partners in all aspects of VET
– In strategic planning
– In planning of study places
– In management of VET system as a whole and in the
management of VET schools
– In working out of qualification standards and curricula
– In organising of practical training of students in
enterprises
– In examination committes
Introducing new and flexible study
possibilities
• Life long learning context
• New study possibilities for different target groups
– VET training for people without basic education
– VET training without general education
– Additional study possibilities for those who want to go
on to higher education
– Apprenticeship training
• Continuous VET and retraining possibilities for
adults
• Introducing VET into general schools
Making VET schools system
much more effective
• Main principle: there should be VET study
possibilities in each county
• Concentration of resources – bigger VET
centres in regions
• In 2000 there were: 62 state and 17 private schools
• In 2008 there are:
– 32 state schools
– 3 municipal schools
– 12 private schools
Improving quality and modernising VET
• VET standard – was adopted by the Government in
April 2006
• Methodological centre for VET in REKK
– State curricula–15 already established, 25 in preparation
– Continuous training for VET teachers and trainers
– Preparation of methodological materials
• Development of e-learning possibilities, e-college
• Developing the qualification system and improving
professional standards
Financing of VET
• The student in VET and in general school got equal
financing in 2005! In 2007 the ratio was already
1,28 : 1
• Aim was to change this ratio to 1,5 : 1 in 2008, but it
does not realize
• Investments in 10 VET colleges during ERDF period
2004-2006 (08) in amount of 700 million EEK (44,7
million EUR)
Another Good results
• Good computing and internet opportunities
• System of modular programmes, which meet the
requirements of the vocational standards
• Ensuring learning opportunities for the students with
special needs
• Teaching basics of entrepeneurship, work relations,
community work
• Optimising number of teaching positions
• Increasing the teachers formal education level
• Active international cooperation
Main problems in Estonian VET system
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Low attractiveness – few motivated students (70 : 30!)
Demographic challange
Not fully corresponding to economical, regional,social needs
The content of VETas well as teaching and learning is not
up-to-date and of high quality in every school
Not enough motivated teaching staff yet
Educating and retraining of VET teachers and trainers is not
established systematically yet
Methodological development of textbooks and teaching
materials is insufficient
Very high dropout rate – 14,7% per year!
Not renovated and modernised learning environment in
many cases
Insufficient effectiveness of using resources
Students in general and vocational
programmes (ISCED 2-4)
Labour market need for working
people in 2014 (prognosis)
tuhat
13,9
14,0
12,0
10,0
8,0
6,0
4,0
2,0
0,0
-2,0
-4,0
-6,0
10,5
Juhid
10,2
Spetsialistid
Teenindajad
-0,8
Oskustöölised
-4,2
Lihttöölised
Financing general and vocational
education on ISCED levels 2-4
Main challanges for Estonian
VET in coming period 2009-2013
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Rising attractiveness of VET
Improving quality of studies
Introducing Quality Assurance system
Meeting needs of very different target groups
Enlarging continuing training and retraining
Developing qualification system
Improving financing
Updating the infrastructure of VET colleges
Improving quality of studies
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2 ESF programmes in amount of 12,7 m EUR
Curriculum development
Teacher training
Preparation of methodological and study
materials
• E-learning development
• Introducing quality assurance system
• We need excellency in VET if we want to act
fruitfully in knowledgebased economy
Study possibilities for different
target groups - flexibility
• Variety of target groups increases
• Sometimes they are very specific ones:
people in prisons, without basic education,
with special needs together with high-level
students and adult people, who need extraclass training
• Each target group needs specific approach
• Very high demands for teachers and trainers
– we need different types of them
Enlarging continuing training
and retraining
• One of key activities in coming years for
Estonian VET system
• Estonian economy needs restructuring
• From cheap bid production to products and
services with higher added value
• Very high need for continuous and retraining
• Financing - 3 measures under 3 ministries
• 3 ESF programmes in our ministry – 11,5 m
EUR
Improving financing and
updating the infrastructure
• Our aim – to realize the ratio 1,5 : 1 in
financing study processes in VET and
general education
• Investments of ERDF into VET colleges´
infrastructure in 2008-2013 - 3,6 billion EEK
(230 m EUR)
– Priorities are facilities for practical training and
equipment for it
– student hostels
Rising attractiveness of VET
• Also a special ESF programme for it – 1,7
m EUR
• Developing national skills competitions´
system as the main activity in this
programme
• Skills competitions:
– Good stimulus for competitors
– Settling higher standards for training
– Main attracting tool
Thank you for attention!