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While facing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the WorldSkills Croatia 2021 competition was held live from 11 to 13 May in Zagreb, Croatia, for over 300 IVET learners in 43 disciplines.
The Zagreb and Petrinja earthquakes that occurred in the spring and winter of 2020 respectively, caused major disruption in the education process at all levels, including VET.
From March to June 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown and the school transition to distance learning, the Agency for VET and Adult Education (ASOO) conducted a survey on the experience, attitudes and needs associated with distance learning in Croatia. They asked 1348 IVET and CVET teachers to assess digital competences, distance learning delivery and available support. Further surveys were also conducted among pre-tertiary and provider levels to plan support and different scenarios for education and training delivery in 2020/21.
At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Croatian healthcare system faced a global shortage of medical supplies such as gloves, masks and disinfectants that protect healthcare workers against infection with SARS-CoV-2. In March 2020, numerous VET providers engaged with this shortage in a bottom-up initiative to produce face shields through 3D technology.
From 16 March 2020, Croatian learners at all levels of education, including VET and adult education, are being taught in virtual classes in their homes, as per government decision and guidelines from the Ministry of Science and Education. Three weeks after the first registered case of the Covid-19 virus in Croatia, and upon the declaration of a national epidemic, the education community in Croatia organised virtual teaching in only five days.
Nation-wide campaigns promote enrolment in IVET programmes
In July 2019, the Agency for VET and Adult Education (ASOO) and the economy ministry (MINGO) launched nation-wide campaigns for the promotion of VET during the main enrolment period in upper secondary education. The enrolment data indicate increased share of students in initial VET, showing that VET is becoming the first choice of many students, including high achievers.
Croatia has a strong vocational education and training (VET) tradition. Participation at upper secondary level is one of the highest in the EU and the share of early leaving from education and training is the lowest in the Union.
Over 580 VET students competed in WorldSkills Croatia, where they demonstrated their abilities in 43 disciplines. These included, for the first time, categories for students with disabilities and cross-sectoral disciplines in technologically progressive industries, such as robotics and mechatronics. Practical and team work tasks were at the heart of this year’s event, which attracted more than 10 000 visitors.
Two flagship initiatives for the modernisation of education address vocational and general education components of VET.
The winning teams of the #CedefopPhotoAward 2019 competition come from Austria, Croatia and Romania.