COMMENT
From Good Practice to High Quality Law
The first positive experiences with dual education – among interested parents, local governments and schools – have shown that Serbia has the capacity and enthusiasm for change and tangible results - young people who acquire jobs immediately after leaving the classroom. Now it is important, with the assistance of donor countries, to make such a systemic framework that will make these kinds of results permanent
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umerous countries, including those Thus, the first signal that the existing VET The experience of donor countries shows that have multiple-year training proeducation system did not offer good solutions that for the success of such an initiative it grammes for skilled trade professions, (although it was also previously built on the is extremely important to have cooperation just like Serbia, have responded to high German model) came from foreign investors, between the Ministry of Education, the National Employment Service, trade unions, the youth unemployment by embarking on a deep who – despite the competitive price of labour Serbian Chamber of Commerce & Industry and reorganisation of their school system, relying on – had trouble finding skilled, qualified workers. the economy as a whole. Each of these has the most successful models of Austria, Germany, Fortunately, through donor assistance from their own role to play in the designDenmark, Norway and Switzerland, ing, analysing and constructing of where well-established education is high-quality education programmes, the key to low unemployment and the which, apart from school desks, rely high efficiency and competitiveness of primarily on practical work in compatheir economies. nies. The last factor highlights the exExpert knowledge and experience ceptional responsibility of the Serbian have actually become among the most Chamber of Commerce & Industry and sought-after export products of these companies that must build their own countries. high-quality educational facilities and Although at first glance this appears offer work-placement students the to be about a simple task, somewhat kind of knowledge that they will be improved teaching programmes for metal grinders, welders, seamstresses, tailors and shoemakers, with more The experience of donor countries shows that for the success of practical experience with companies, the introduction of dual education is such an initiative it is extremely important to have cooperation actually, according to the experience between the Ministry of Education, the National Employment of successful countries, an extremely Service, trade unions, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce & complex task that requires political Industry, and the economy as a whole and social consensus, as well as close cooperation between social partners able to use, not only in the companies where and strong expertise that will form the basis to Switzerland, Germany and Austria, and then they carry out their training, but also beyond, essentially manage this system and constantly expert assistance from Scandinavian countries, in a relevant profession. innovate it to meet the needs of the economy Serbia was given the opportunity to gain access The first positive experience – with interested and the wider objectives of educating part of to knowledge that would allow it, without major parents, governments and schools – showed the young generation. roaming, to build a dual education system that that Serbia has the capacity and enthusiasm Following the experimental phase, Serbia could potentially bring it significant economic for change and tangible results - young people should this year also establish a defined legal and social benefits – a higher employment who acquire jobs immediately after leaving framework for the introduction of dual educarate, especially among young people, and a tion in the country’s education system. the classroom. Now it is important, with the higher quality business environment in which, The national economy’s interest in a highly assistance of donor countries, to make such a under partial reindustrialisation dependent on skilled labour force subsided with the reduction systemic framework that will make these kinds foreign and domestic investors, emerges a far of industrial production in Serbia in the 1980s. of results permanent. more efficient economic system. HUMAN RESOURCES DUAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING (VET) SYSTEMS
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