Prishtina, 21 May 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, this morning held a meeting with the working group together with representatives of donors in the implementation of Education and Vocational Training in Kosovo.
Prime Minister Kurti stated that during the three years of government, the importance of the connection between education and the economy and professional education and training with the labor market has been constantly emphasized. Now that we are in the second academic year of the implementation of dual education, there are a total of 12 profiles in 23 professional schools in 14 municipalities of Kosovo in which 920 students are involved.
“Education and Vocational Training are fundamental for the economic development of Kosovo. “Equipping the workforce with practical and appropriate skills allows us to directly address the skills gap in key industries, leading to increased productivity, innovation and competitiveness in local and global markets,” he said.
In the framework of the implementation of the dual system, the Prime Minister announced that the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, together with the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, have worked with dedication to make the necessary reforms to connect education with current and future needs of market. Also, in cooperation with donors such as GIZ, ADA, SDC, USAID, LuxDev, KfW and EU, surveys and researches have been conducted to identify needs and determine the best ways to meet them.
During this workshop, the actors involved discussed the compilation of new standards for dual education profiles, based on the proposals of MINT and the demands of the labor market. Another issue was the development of human resources needed in the industry for the successful operation of this system, namely the training of instructors for the implementation of the dual system.
One of the main issues to be discussed and developed was the one on exams during professional training and certification at the end of the process.
“Cooperation between high and elementary schools, schools of vocational education and training and surveys on the effectiveness of dual education from the perspective of students, teachers, businesses, chambers and business associations, are essential for the success of this joint initiative of ours”. he concluded.
The full speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
Dear donors,
It is a great honor to be here with you today, in this government environment, to discuss such an important issue for the future of our country. I am happy to see so many actors dedicated and interested in Education and Vocational Training. This is clear evidence of the importance of this sector for our common development.
During the more than three years of our government, we have constantly emphasized the importance of connecting education with the labor market. Education and Vocational Training are fundamental for the economic development of Kosovo. Equipping the workforce with practical and relevant skills allows us to directly address the skills gap in key industries, leading to increased productivity, innovation and competitiveness in local and global markets.
In the second academic year of the implementation of dual education, so far we have a total of 12 profiles, in 23 professional schools in 14 municipalities throughout Kosovo, in which 920 students are involved so far.
Kosovo, with a young and dynamic population, faces major challenges related to youth unemployment, and here, Vocational Education and Training offers a clear path for young people to acquire the right skills, fostering the creation of new jobs, reducing unemployment rates and promoting Kosovo as an attractive place for investments. This is essential to the economic growth and overall well-being of our country.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, together with the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, have worked diligently to make the necessary reforms to connect vocational education and training with the current and future needs of the labor market. In cooperation with donors, surveys and research were conducted to identify needs and determine the best ways to meet them.
I thank you all for being active participants and for coordinating your efforts to achieve these goals. It is encouraging to see that today, during this workshop, you will discuss the compilation of new standards for dual learning profiles, based on the proposals of the Ministry of Industry, Enterprise and Trade and the demands of the labor market. You will also deal with the training of instructors for the implementation of the dual system in the enterprise and the development of the human resources needed in the industry for the success of this system.
One of the main issues that remains to be discussed and developed are exams during professional training and certification at the end of this process. We have many valuable experiences from different German-speaking countries, but it is important to find the right formula for our students and the local industry.
The most important thing I notice in this dynamic plan is career orientation for ninth graders. Cooperation between high and primary schools, schools of vocational education and training and surveys on the effectiveness of dual education from the perspective of students, teachers, businesses, chambers and business associations are essential to the success of this initiative.
Thank you for your valuable input! Together, we can build a brighter future for Kosovo and especially its young people and I wish you good work.
Last modified: May 21, 2024