Since September, more pupils in the dual system

The number of students in dual education, that is, the system of parallel learning and work with employers, will be doubled from September and is expected to amount to around 500, announced the Minister of Education, Damir Šehović.

At a round table in the Chamber of Commerce (PKCG), he said that the awareness of young people must be changed and better cooperation between employers and the education system must be established.

"The educational system should create employees for the labor market, not for the labor bureau," said Šehović.

He added that next year he expects an increase in the number of employers participating in the dual system by about 50 percent, and children by about 100 percent.

"In this school year, we have 101 renowned employers in the dual education system, and for the new school year, which will start in September, we already have almost twice as many interested employers," said Šehović.

The Ministry reminded that this year, around 276 students are included in that system, and the number of new places for the next year will be at least as many.

That, as they stated, means that there will be no less than 500 students in dual education from September.

The Ministry said that there are currently 12 municipalities in dual education, and that from September that number will be increased to at least 15, as well as the number of schools will be increased to around 25.

Šehović said that the indicative data must be changed that, according to the research, around 64 percent of the working-age population would rather accept employment in the public sector for a monthly income of 450 euros, than in the private sector for 750 euros.

"We have to change the awareness of young people and we have to establish better cooperation between employers and the education system, because the education system should create employees for the market, not for the bureau. And finally, we must do everything so that we don't need to import workers", concluded Šehović.

The president of PKCG, Vlastimir Golubović, said that the qualified workforce must simultaneously adapt to the labor market.

He announced that the needs for practical training of students are based on experiences like Germany, and that Montenegro has the lowest youth unemployment rate in the European Union.

With dual education, as stated by Golubović, employers have the opportunity to create future employees for their needs and for the needs of the market, and the training is carried out in realistic conditions and with careful supervision.

"In this way, employers will contribute to the creation of a knowledge economy in Montenegro," said Golubović.

The President of the Montenegrin Tourist Association (CTU), Žarko Radulović, said that by introducing the system of dual education, the Ministry of Education took the right step, so that young people would not sit at home, but do what they were educated and perfected for with the employer.

He recalled that once the top car mechanic was a star in the city and the personification of that profession, maintaining that today there is no such attitude towards this profession, and that dual education can revive many important professions that the market needs.

The technical director of Inpek, Milko Beljkaš, assessed that the revival and encouragement of the dual system of education represents an exceptional step forward from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Secondary Schools.

He explained that ten students study at Inpek as part of the dual system and that, apart from the fact that young people form working habits at an early stage, this system popularizes the profession.

"I think that top experts have exceptional perspectives, and in our company such professionals can earn up to 1.200 euros," emphasized Beljkaš.

The director of Aura, Mijo Bubanja, said that the company supplies beauty salons throughout Montenegro, as well as participates in the development of qualification standards for hairdressing services, which is an example of how education and the economy should cooperate.

"We also established cooperation with the Vocational Secondary School "Spasoje Raspopović" and the students who are now with us in dual education will continue to work in our salon", said Bubanja.

The Ministry said that the meeting highlighted the need for better alignment between education and the labor market.

The round table was organized as part of the Ministry of Education's campaign entitled Professional is key! Get a job, earn and build yourself - dual education.