Šehović: Since September, twice as many children in dual education

150 employers are interested in participating in the dual education system in the new school year, said Minister of Education Damir Šehović, stating that he expects that number to be significantly higher by the start of enrollment.

Today, the Ministry of Education officially started a campaign for enrollment in vocational schools and dual education under the title "Vocational is key - study, earn, build yourself", and it will last until June, when the deadline for submission of enrollment documents is due.

At the press conference, Šehović said that last year's educational reform was serious and that is shown by the latest report of the European Commission, in which the progress in education was assessed as good.

He pointed out that the public was mostly occupied with the changes in primary and higher education, and that actually some of the biggest strides were made in secondary education.

The minister pointed out that about 20 percent more children enrolled in three-year programs, and that about 40 percent of them are in the third grade at the same time in dual education.

"Dual education has come to life after almost a decade and we currently have about 280 children with about 100 employers," announced Šehović, pointing out that students receive a decent monthly allowance during their three-year education.

He said that this year, 101 employers are involved in the dual education system, and that 150 employers are already interested in participating in the new school year, as of September.

"We expect that number to be higher by the time enrollment starts," said Šeković.

He said that this year there are about 280 students in dual education, and they expect that there will be about 500 students by September.

Šehović said that after completing dual education, a young man is able to work independently in the profession for which he was educated, but also that there is a high probability that he will be employed by the same employer where he was educated.

As he stated, by participating in dual education, employers show social responsibility and have the opportunity to create a future workforce according to their needs.

"The state also has multiple benefits from dual education, the biggest of which is that it solves the multi-decade problem of the mismatch between supply and demand for labor force," Šehović pointed out.

He announced that the implementation of modernized educational programs based on learning outcomes began this year.

"If a student leaves education before its completion, and has successfully mastered the prescribed modules up to that point, he can certainly obtain a certificate of professional qualification," explained Šehović.

He stated that the entire educational process is organized so that at the end it is known exactly what skills and knowledge the student has acquired.

Šehović reminded that the Ministry allocated about 200 EUR for scholarships for vocational schools, and 250 EUR for fees for students in dual education.

The director of the Center for Vocational Education, Duško Rajković, said that the latest report from Brussels showed that one of the biggest advances was made in vocational education, which means that many years of work paid off.

He announced that more than 400 people are involved in the creation of 15 educational programs, which should start implementation from September.

"We work transparently, and our goal is quality, and we get quality with transparent work with the support of the Ministry of Education," Rajković added.

Rajković said that the dual system is followed in Montenegro and that he is satisfied with the information they receive from practical education instructors in the application of dual education.

"The task before us is to visit all the employers who have expressed their desire to be part of this project, to train their instructors in practical education for working with young people and to involve them in one of the important activities, which we will push for in the coming period, which is is a skills competition," Rajković said.

He said that the children want and can, but they should be given the opportunity to implement practical lessons in real working conditions and that success will not be absent.

The director of the School of Economics and Hospitality from Bar, Tanja Spičanović, said that the school has implemented a dual education system and that the impressions and experiences of students, parents and employers are positive.

"We rightly have justified expectations that the interest of employers will be even greater in the coming period," Spičanović added.

She announced that the economic catering school has embarked on an intensive three-year campaign to promote the school and deficit occupations.

"What is specific about this year's campaign is that the center of gravity of those activities was taken over by the students, united around the student parliament, they went on tours of dream schools, because we believe that direct communication is important in order to exchange impressions," she said.

Spičanović emphasized that the school wants to contribute to enrolling as many young people as possible in occupations that the labor market needs, in order to overcome prejudices that craft occupations are ranked lower.

According to her, it is a stable and safe pillar of a stable society.