The Government of Germany offers Moldova €2 million for developing technical professional education by dual system that combines apprenticeships in a company and vocational education at a vocational school. An agreement to this effect was signed between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the German Agency for International Cooperation on July 28, IPN reports.
The project will be implemented in 2016-2018. For the purpose, the project team and the two ministries will intensely cooperate with the private sector. The dual education system will enable the future specialists to learn the skills needed in the job and to train in accordance with the employer’s requirements. Thus, 30% of the training program consists of theory classes taught at the vocational schools, while 70% of practical courses at the company.
Germany’s Ambassador to Moldova Ulrike Knotz said that her country has a long such professional training tradition. ”We ascertained that many Moldovan enterprises are interested in this model. The enterprises need specialists who are trained to immediately become involved in work, without being additionally instructed. I’m sure that a dual system adjusted to Moldova’s realities will contribute to the economic success of the country,” stated the official.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Eduard Grama said that at the end of the program he would like to see a very close connection between the business community and the students who graduate from vocational schools. According to him, the number of students who remain to work in the field is lower than 17%. “We hope that by this program we will realize the given potential and will develop technical professional education,” he stated.
Minister of Education Corina Fusu said that this project is welcome in the broader process of modernizing the technical professional education in Moldova. “The signing of today’s agreement is an important step in this direction,” stated the official.
Six companies operating in the auto and textiles industries and five vocational schools are now involved in the dual education system of Moldova. From September, GasNaturalFenosa will provide professional training through the dual system for training electrical fitters. The partnership agreement will extend the dual system to agriculture and food industry so that qualified specialists are trained in the fields.
