Reference year 2019
1Scheme history
Government Emergency Ordinance no. 81/2016 introduced dual VET at EQF levels 3, 4 and 5. It was endorsed in April 2018 by Law no. 82 regarding the modification and completion of the National Education Law (no. 1/2011).
Implementation of dual VET started in school year 2017-2018, currently only at EQF level 3. The dual VET at EQF levels 4 and 5 is not implemented, yet.
The dual VET has been introduced as a response of vocational education and training to the growing and diversified labor market requirements and in order to improve the education and training system's response to the economic and social dynamics in Romania.
2Beneficiaries
The students involved in dual VET must be lower secondary programmes graduates (usually, 14-15 years old) and under 26 years old.
According to data provided by the Ministry of National Education, most students involved in 9th year of school- dual VET, are from current generation of lower secondary programmes graduates (over 14 years old).
Data provided by County School Inspectorates, show that, in school year 2019-2020, there are involved 12908 learners at national level in dual form for initial VET (6970 in 9th year of school, 3816 in 10 th year of school and 2122 in 11th year of school).
Link for these data:
https://www.alegetidrumul.ro/oferta
The school plan for the school year 2020-2021 for Romania provides 8888 places in 9th year of school for dual VET (data provided by County School Inspectorates).
Link:
3Qualifications
The dual VET is organised for qualifications included in NQF, according Law no. 82/2018 for the approval of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 81/2016 regarding the modification and completion of the National Education Law no. 1/2011 (Article 331 , paragraph (1)).
The dual VET currently implemented is upper secondary education (ISCED 3), nationally referred as ‘professional’ programmes.
The same qualifications can be achieved in initial VET, including dual form, or in continuous VET.
Law no. 82/2018 for the approval of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 81/2016 regarding the modification and completion of the National Education Law no. 1/2011, Article 331 , paragraph (1) stipulates that: Vocational and technical education, including dual, is organized to acquire knowledge, skills and competences predominantly for employment for professional qualifications at Levels 3, 4 and 5, according to the NQF/EQF.
Implementation of dual VET is currently only at EQF level 3. The dual training at EQF levels 4 and 5 is not implemented, yet.
After successfully passing the final qualifications exam, the graduates obtain a certificate for a professional qualification EQF level 3 and Europass supplement to the certificate (the supplement does not stipulate that the certificate was obtained in dual VET).
The graduates in dual VET also receive a certificate of practical training in dual education (regulated by OMEN 4798/2017) attesting to the activities carried out by the students during the practice and the results of the learning acquired through these activities. This certificate is part of the student's personal portfolio.
According Law no. 82/2018 for the approval of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 81/2016 regarding the modification and completion of the National Education Law no. 1/2011, in Romania, no person can access higher education without successfully passing the Baccalaureate exam (upper-secondary school leaving exam).
The graduates of dual VET can continue their studies in the upper secondary education (in the third year of EQF level 4 technological programmes), under the conditions established by the methodology approved by order of the Minister of National Education.
4Governance
- The National Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development is an institution accountable to the education ministry. The centre’s main responsibilities in the initial VET (including dual VET) are to:
-evaluate and suggest changes to policies and strategies, and coordinate their implementation;
-coordinate the design, implementation and review of national curricula, assessment and certification for the initial VET component;
-supervise the development of professional training standards for qualifications that are validated by sectoral committees (coordinated by the National Authority for Qualifications) and approved by the education ministry;
-ensure the development and functioning of stakeholder partnerships at national, regional and local levels;
-develop methodologies for the quality assurance and monitoring of programmes
-implement continuing professional training programmes for teachers/trainers.
Initial VET (including dual form) qualifications are based on training standards.
Training standards are developed by representatives of the companies from the respective sectors and of the VET providers, with the methodological support of the National Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development, endorsed by National Authority for Qualifications and validated by employers and other social partners through sectoral committees. The revision of standards is carried out at least every five years or at the request of economic operators.
In the same time, partner companies have a role in design of local curricula.
Chambers do not have a specific role in the design of content for dual VET.
In dual VET partner companies are responsible for implementing the training process together with schools.
Companies participate with representatives on the boards of the partner schools.
Chambers do not have a specific role in the implementation of dual VET.
5Training at the workplace
In dual VET, the students' training is carried out as follows: theoretical training in school, and practical training in the company, based on a partnership contract between the two partners, together with the local authority.
The practical training in the company is carried out according to the educational plans and the schedule established by agreement between the educational unit and the economic partner. It is recommended that the practical training in the company be carried out alternatively with the theoretical training in the school, but it is not mandatory. These internships can be accumulated, for example, at the end of the school year.
In the dual VET currently implemented, during the three years of training, it is organised practical training combined with a total duration of 24 weeks, 5 weeks in the first year, 9 weeks in the second year and 10 weeks in the third year.
NA for dual VET.
The methodology of organisation and functioning of dual VET approved by Order of the Ministry of Education no. 3554/29.03.2017 stipulate that:
Article 58.- In dual VET hourly schedules are flexible in terms of allocating the number of hours per discipline / module, practical training hours may be distributed during the school year or combined over several weeks, with respect to the total number of hours / week and the total number hours / year for each discipline / module.
Art. 59. - The schedule for the practical training of the students organised at the economic operator will be determined by the educational unit, together with the partner entity, according to its work schedule, respecting the age specifics of students and the legal regulations related to health and safety of work.
The dual VET, currently implemented, is three-year professional programmes of initial VET.
They are based on training standards that describe learning units consisting of learning outcomes and are based on occupational standards.
Training standards play a key role in designing VET curricula, assessing learning outcomes and awarding qualification certificates.
Curricula for each qualification have two main components:
- core curriculum designed at national level by education working groups;
- local (school) curriculum designed by schools and local businesses to facilitate adaptation of the students' professional training to the requirements of the local and regional labour market.
Curricula for dual VET have two main components:
- core curriculum designed at national level by education working groups;
- local (school) curriculum designed by schools and local businesses to facilitate adaptation of the students' professional training to the requirements of the local and regional labour market.
Practical training in partner companies is based on local curriculum agreed by the school and the company.
According the Order of the Ministry of Education no. 3554/29.03.2017, economic operators who are involved in dual VET must provide conditions for:
a) organising and carrying out the practical training sessions foreseen in the framework educational plan for the respective level of qualification, as well as the practical training component of the specialised modules, agreed to be carried out at economic operators;
b) ensuring the material conditions - machinery, equipment, raw materials, consumables, energy and other utilities necessary for the practice of the pupils organised under their responsibility, according to the professional training standards, curricula and curriculum in force, including the curriculum in local development for practical training sessions designed in collaboration with the educational establishment;
c) providing human resources (tutors) necessary for the practical training of students, organised at the economic operator;
d) the provision of working and protective equipment for pupils during the training periods carried out at the economic operator;
e) ensuring the safety and health at work of the students during the training periods carried out at the economic operator;
f) hiring the costs necessary to ensure safety and health at work, labour medicine examinations and compulsory medical examinations for pupils;
g) hiring the costs of civil liability insurance in case of accidents, damages or bodily injuries generated during practical training at the economic operator for pupils (depending on the field of activity);
h) to provide students with a scholarship, at least at the level of the awarded from public funds;
i) other forms of financial support and financial incentives agreed in the partnership contract;
j) ensuring the necessary conditions (endowments, raw materials, consumables, utilities, etc.) for the admission examinations and the certification examinations for the professional qualification of the pupils, according to the agreed location for their organisation;
k) ensuring the necessary conditions for the continuous assessment of students in the practical training at the economic operator;
l) hiring other expenses necessary for the quality of the pupils;
m) the agreed contribution to improve the endowment and the conditions for carrying out the education and training process in the educational establishment;
n) exercising the duties of a member on the board of directors or, as the case may be, in the representative council of the economic operators;
o) involvement in information and promotion activities of the vocational training offer;
p) participation with specialists in the design of the curriculum in local development;
q) the organisation of additional practical training sessions for students with an unscheduled school situation due to absences or who have not obtained backgrounds for practical training or practical training within modules of the curriculum for that qualification.
In dual VET, it is regulated a partnership contract between school, partner company and municipality (local authority).
This contract establishes the terms of collaboration, the rights and obligations of the parties.
Failure to fulfil or improper performance of the obligations assumed under the partnership contract entails the liability of the defaulting party, except for the exonerating cases provided for by law.
Failure to comply with the obligations assumed under this contract by one of the parties, by fault, gives the right of the injured party to consider the contract terminated by law / to request the termination of the contract and to claim damages.
6Contract and compensation
According to Annex 1 of Order of the Ministry of Education no. 4798/31.08.2017 the practitioner keeps, during the theoretical and practical training, the status of student of the educational unit (Article 2, paragraph (1)).
In dual VET, according the Order of the Ministry of Education no. 4798/31.08.2017, for each student is concluded an individual practical training contract, signed by economic partner of dual learning practice, together with school and the student (or his/her legal representative).
This document includes all the practice activities which the economic operator is responsible for through the partnership contract - the practical training sessions in the the curriculum framework, as well as the weekly practical training component (practical training and technological laboratory) of the speciality modules for the professional qualification concerned, which have been agreed upon by the partnership contract, take place at that economic operator or at other locations established by on the basis of written conventions / contracts, which it concludes for this purpose with other economic operators or training providers.
The practical training contract may be supplemented by other specific clauses, according the legal regulations.
In dual VET, the contractual arrangement are regulated through orders of Ministry of education.
On one hand, a partnership contract is regulated between school, partner company and municipality (local authority) (regulated by OMEN 3554/2017)
This contract establishes the terms of collaboration, the rights and obligations of the parties.
Failure to fulfil or improper performance of the obligations assumed under the partnership contract entails the liability of the defaulting party, except for the exonerating cases provided for by law.
Failure to comply with the obligations assumed under this contract by one of the parties, by fault, gives the right of the injured party to consider the contract terminated by law / to request the termination of the contract and to claim damages.
In the same time, for each student is concluded an individual practical training contract, signed by economic partner of dual learning practice, together with school and the student (or legal representative) (regulated by OMEN 4798/2017).The individual practical training contract is recognised by the legislation in education, not in labour code.
For dual VET the rules are as follows:
-the partnership contract between school, partner company and municipality (local authority) is registered by each signatory;
-the individual practical training contract, signed by economic partner of dual learning practice, together with school and the student (or legal representative) is registered at school and the corresponding company.
In dual VET, the students receive two types of allowance:
·Professional scholarship for three-year professional programmes
Professional scholarship is a national social protection programme that offers EUR~43 (200 Romanian Leu) per month for all three-year professional programme learners (including the dual VET students).
·Dual VET allowance
In addition to the professional scholarship, dual VET students receive at least EUR ~43 (200 Romanian Lei) per month in allowances from the company they undergo training in. Companies also pay for work equipment of learners, their insurance and medical examination, if obliged to do so by the occupation requirements.
NA for dual VET
Students do not receive wages but professional scholarship (by national social protection programme) and allowance (from the company). They are not taxed.
7Financing and incentives
In dual VET, the students receive two types of allowance:
·Professional scholarship for three-year professional programmes- sustained by the state
·Dual VET allowance- from the company they undergo training in
The practical stages in dual VET are organised entirely in partner companies and all the costs are supported by them.
They may have tax deductions according the Fiscal Code completed by Government Emergency Ordinance 84/2016.
By completing the Fiscal Code introduced by Government Emergency Ordinance 84/2016 and according to the legal regulations in the field of national education, economic operators and students benefit from the fiscal facilities:
- economic agents can deduct from the taxable income expenses incurred on the basis of the contracts concluded with the schools for organising and carrying out the vocational education and training (including dual VET);
- the economic agents recover from the tax point of view, by deducting the depreciation, the expenditures related to the fixed assets and the investments, made on the basis of the contracts concluded with the schools, for the organisation and the performance of the vocational education and training (including dual VET).
In dual VET, the two type of allowance are paid throughout the school year, excluding school holidays.