Better management of circular migration, tackling youth exclusion and boosting work-based learning identified by the European Training Foundation as key for the eastern European country.
Moldova faces many of the challenges common to emerging economies in Eastern Europe, including limited resources, and other issues such as low levels of capital investment in human resource development, with education funding dependent on incremental support, rather than per capita formulae. Skills shortages, labour migration and a lack of investment in the training of ICT specialists are driving key policies.
Progressive signs
It is far from an entirely negative picture. Youth unemployment - and among the general working population - in the small country (population: 3.5 million in 2018) has been almost halved over the past decade (from close to 20% for 15-24 year olds; 7% for 15+) and number of VET graduates has nudged up 3.5 points to 42% over the same period. General employment levels at 49.2% are higher than the EU average of 48.1%. Nearly half of all upper secondary school students are enrolled in vocational schools, though PISA low achiever scores in reading, maths and science are all significantly higher than the EU average. Youth exclusion has long been recognised, although rates of young people Not in Employment Education or Training (NEETS) remain stubbornly high - reduced only by two points over eight years to 19.3% in 2018.
Moldova's reaction has been to forge ahead with a comprehensive policy on work-based learning, which is now mandatory at all levels of VET, including secondary and continuing VET. Since January 2019 the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research has been pursuing a new policy of regulation and validation of non-formal and informal education (VNFIL). This is particularly important for Moldova's labour market, which is characterised by large numbers of returning migrants.
Focus on work-based learning
The ETF's Torino Process - the agency's flagship evidence-based tool for assessing progress in reforms of VET policies and implementation - has been following the development of dual-education as a key plank of Moldovan education policy for several years, where ministers see it as critical in aligning training with labour market needs.
The main types of work-based learning in Moldova include in school practical training (2-3 days per week), carried out mostly in vocational workshops and labs, and on-the-job-training, involving internships of 12-14 weeks in companies, as well as dual-education organized by firms where students spend 70% of time on practical training and 30% on theory. Dual VET, as a new model of WBL emerged in 2014 and, in Moldova, has seen strong support from international partners including GIZ, the German International Development Agency, which implemented a €2 million "structural reform in VET in Moldova" project 2015-2018, the Austrian Development Agency LED, and the Swiss Cooperation Office (SDC).
The targeted policy means that now as many as 8% of Moldovan secondary vocational students are engaged in work-based learning and dual-education programmes.
Work still needs to be done, the Torino Process country report shows: "Dual VET depends on the companies' desire and readiness to assume a high level of responsibility and on their technical and human capacity. VET institutions still face difficulties in establishing long-term relations with companies and the latter often lack mechanisms for ensuring the quality of learning processes and efficient training methods.
Looking ahead
ETF recommendations highlight areas that need more attention.
Moldova's "circular migration" - the cycle of migrant workers going abroad (often seasonally) before returning home - presents particular human resource development challenges. The ETF recommends the "mobilisation of public VET providers and use of surplus capacity" to offer relevant training for such workers. Cross-border schemes should be set up via bi-lateral agreements to ensure continuity of training for circular migrants.
More work needs to be done on diminishing and avoiding youth exclusion, particularly via better student retention in training schemes and lowering drop out rates. There should be "more youth-friendly services and training for labour market participation, with fine tuning to make them more attractive."
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