WORKING GROUPS

MAPPING OF VET POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION AND SOCIAL COHESION IN THE WESTERN BALKANS, TURKEY AND ISRAEL

TEL AVIV, HOTEL METROPOLITANDATE 11 NOVEMBER 2013

TASKS-REFLECTIONS AND PROPOSALS: MAKING VET FIT FOR PURPOSE

1. POLICIES FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL WELFARE ARE INSUFFICIENTLY ‘JOINED-UP’ AND CO-ORDINATED

2. YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISADVANTAGED SOCIO- ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND/OR SPECIAL NEEDS TEND TO BE OVERLY REPRESENTED IN THE VET SCHOOLS; DESPITE THE GREATER NEEDS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE VET SCHOOLS ARE OFTEN COMPARATIVELY UNDER-RESOURCED AND UNATTRACTIVE

3. EMPLOYERS AND SOCIAL PARTNERS ARE INADEQUATELY ENGAGED AS PARTNERS IN VET POLICY DEVELOPMENT, GOVERNANCE, MANAGEMENT AND PROVISION; THIS HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE RELEVANCE AND STATUS OF VET QUALIFICATIONS

4. COMPETENT SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS AND RELEVANT METHODS AND MATERIALS ARE CRUCIAL FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF QUALITY LEARNING OUTCOMES, YET DISTURBING NUMBERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, RESPONDING TO THE PROJECT SURVEYS, EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THEIR LEARNING FACILITATORS, CONTEXTS AND CONTENTS

5. SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORKS FOR SCHOOL-LEAVERS, INCLUDING CAREER GUIDANCE AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES, ARE OFTEN INEFFECTUAL AND THERE IS A DEARTH OF TRACER STUDIES AND RELEVANT RESEARCH TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR POLICY ACTION TO AMELIORATE THIS