Reference year 2023
Version 2023 - Drafter by Petya Evtimova, Chairman of the Board, Modern Education Foundation - Member of Cedefop Community of apprenticeship experts for Bulgaria
1.Labour Code (amended in 2014 and 2018)
2. Vocational Education and Training Act (2014 and its last amendments in 2018), State Gazette No. 68/30.07.1999. The 2014 VET Act covers both upper-secondary and post-secondary dual training
The 2015 Law on Pre-school and School Education [1] covers only the upper-secondary dual training and complements the VET Act. Art. 115.
It defines work-based learning (dual training system) as a specific form of training in which the professional qualification is acquired through a) practical training in a real working environment and b) training in a vocational school.
The work-based learning scheme can be organised by the vocational school based on a partnership between one or more employers. Furthermore, work-based learning is organised for students that have reached 16 years and are in the second stage of upper secondary education.
In the Vocational Education and Training Act, work-based learning was defined in the same way.
[1] This law was adopted in 2015 and entered into force in August 2016, State Gazette No. 79/2015 http://www.mon.bg/?h=downloadFile&fileId=8245
1. Dual education and training is offered in vocational schools at upper secondary level for students above 16 years of age. The training leads to 2nd or 3rd level professional qualifications (EQF level 4). Upon completion, the diploma for the training gives access to tertiary education.
2. Dual training is offered also in vocational training centres at post-secondary non-tertiary level. It is an initial training or a continuous training leading to 1st, 2nd or 3rd level of professional qualification (EQF 2-4). The training is completed with a certificate for acquired professional qualification at a certain level.
1. After the amendments in legislation in 2014 introducing dual education and training, partnerships between schools and companies were established to start offering dual vocational training.
2. A pilot project called "Domino" (2015-2019) has been launched, which aimed to introduce dual training in Bulgaria based on the Swiss model. The project was implemented within the Bulgarian-Swiss cooperation programme and was carried out jointly with the Ministry of Education and Science. It was supported by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry of Economy [1]
3. In 2021, the Ministry of Education and Science started a project co-financed by the European Social Fund called “Support for the dual system” with a budget of 12 mln Euros. The project continues the activities initiated with the pilot DOMINO project.
[1] The project has a website http://dominoproject.bg, and a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/swissdualeducationbulgaria/info/?tab=page_info
The work-based learning (apprenticeship) scheme in VET schools leads to formal qualification, i.e. provides apprentices with a diploma upon completion. The diploma gives access to tertiary education.
It is different from the short workplace training in companies in the context of school-based VET. The latter usually last up to two weeks annually and are part of the school curriculum and does not lead to a separate formal qualification or certificate.