THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING IN ALBANIA. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

10th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference - SGEM2010, www.sgem.org, SGEM2010 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN 10: 954-91818-1-2, June 20-26, 2010, Vol. 2, 1137-1144 pp

ABSTRACT

Human capital development is one of the major challenges in the overall process
socioeconomic development of the Albania. Although the Albania has managed to
decrease the percentage of people who have low levels of education, this remains
disproportionately high when compared to the corresponding percentage in the EU
States. This paper gives an analysis and an assessment of the main reforms that are
taking place in education and training, in Albania. In particular, it focuses on vocational
education training (VET). The paper reports the results and the difficulties faced in
implementation of the reforms. The reference is the Education and Training 2010 Work
Programme, and in particular the priorities established in the Copenhagen declaration on
enhanced European cooperation in VET. Albania’s VET system continue to remain
focused on inputs, the existing VET system is not linked to labor market needs,
vocational education is not attractive as general education, the role of social partners is
not sensitive in VET and lack of sustainable financial mechanisms, etc. Therefore
needed a modernization of VET to transform the existing system in a quality system of
quality-oriented education and training, with access to the labour market and in
compliance with EU standards of qualification. An improvement of the curricula to
reflect changing competences and ensuring opportunities for further studies, adequate
practical training, better equipment and infrastructure, better teacher training and
enhanced cooperation with businesses are necessary.

Keywords: vocational education training, reforms, labour market, Albania.