Modern vocational education opens up opportunities for young apprentices
Project description
Title: Demand-Oriented Technical Vocational Education and Training (DO TVET)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Co-financed by: Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
Country: Palestinian territories
Lead executing agency: National TVET Commission (NTC)
Overall term: 2021 to 2024
Context
Unemployment in the Palestinian territories is high because of political and economic instability. At the same time, companies are often unable to find qualified workers. According to business associations, this is mainly because vocational education and training fails to adequately prepare apprentices for the labour market.
Trainees lack key knowledge because government vocational secondary schools and vocational training centres rarely offer hands-on work in businesses. Educators and instructors often lack training as educators, making it difficult for them to impart knowledge. Many vocational schools also lack equipment. Traditionally, vocational education is not highly regarded in the population. Parents tend to prepare their children for a tertiary degree. Furthermore, young women in particular are barely represented in the labour market.
The ministries responsible for employment and education face the challenge of improving the facilities of educational institutions, revising curricula according to demand, qualifying educators and improving the standing of vocational education among the population.
Since 2017, the ‘Train the Trainers’ predecessor project has been working on initially improving the professional standards for educators and instructors, and on supporting political reforms. Educators and instructors were also provided with further technical and, in particular, pedagogical training to enable comprehensive practice-oriented learning.
Objective
Vocational education and training is more closely aligned with the needs of the private sector and makes it easier for young people to enter the labour market.
Approach
In cooperation with educational institutions, the private sector and ministries, the programme continues to develop demand-oriented vocational education and training based on the needs of both companies and apprentices. It improves the employability of young people by working in three areas of activity:
1. Expanding cooperation with the private sector
The project regularly holds an ideas competition for new forms of cooperation between educational institutions and businesses. For example, companies participate in the design of final examinations and in-company instructors are trained in the systematic support of apprentices. At the same time, the project improves cooperation between chambers, associations and companies, and provides further training for relevant office-holders. Select vocational schools are also being expanded into competence centres offering training and continuing education for educators and instructors. Triangular cooperation with Brazil on the topic of renewable energy is being implemented to introduce future-oriented vocational education as well.
2. Directing education policy
The programme promotes the development of the TVET Commission that is yet to be established. Experiences from the pilot projects and predecessor project are being incorporated into the national vocational education strategy. On that basis, the programme provides advice on adapting and standardising learning content. This also includes the financing, planning, controlling and networking of educational institutions and cooperation between the state and industry.
3. Expanding career advice
Several career guidance offers are provided to inspire young people to pursue vocational education and training. Career advice at secondary schools is to be revised and expanded with new elements such as life skills and breaking down stereotypes.
Initial cooperation with the Experimento system of the Siemens Foundation has already begun with the aim of making vocational education and training more appealing. The programme also supports TVET Summer Camps, which provide access to vocational education and training, sport for development methods and communication tools.
Last update: March 2021