The European Union will offer 30 million euros to Moldova to support the reform of the vocational and technical education sector. The Government today approved the decision to sign the financing agreement, IPN reports.

25 million euros of the total will be allocated through the Budget Support Program in three installments: 3.5 million euros in 2015, 10 million euros in 2016, and 11.5 million euros in 2017.An additional 5 million euros are for a technical assistance project that is to start in February 2014 and which aims to strengthen the capacities of the main actors involved in the reform of the vocational and technical education.

Education Minister Maia Sandu said the reform's objective is to rethink the curricula and restructure the network of institutions in order to increase the efficiency of vocational education and provide skilled workers to the national economy that meet the demand of the labor market.

Maia Sandu recalled that the Government adopted a strategy for 2013-2020 which envisages enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy by educating skilled and competent workers in conformity with the current and future requirements of the labor market.

Part of the money offered by the EU will be used to create 10 centers of excellence for various areas of the national economy. They will act as regional coordinators, helping vocational institutions with their curricula and with promoting effective partnerships with employers. Also, sectoral committees for 7 occupational areas will be created to develop occupational standards and analyze the labor market.