Re-training / re-training by choice

PDF Version
Name of the instrument - Local language
Rekvalifikace / zvolená rekvalifikace
Name of the instrument - English translation
Re-training / re-training by choice
Scheme ID
43
Country
Czechia
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Grant for individuals
Sub-type of instrument
Cost-related support
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

There are 2 groups that may apply for the grant during the current EU programming period: job applicants and job seekers. The overall condition for eligibility is registration in PES databases. Specific conditions may include a sufficient prior qualification level or positive outcome of skill needs analysis by PES. The eligible education and training activities include vocational courses aimed at deepening or upgrading qualifications, re-training/re-skilling. Retraining may be selected by applicants or it may be assigned to job-seekers by PES. The co-funding rate is 100% of eligible costs. The scheme can be re-used by the same applicant after a break of a particular period.

Not applicable
Level of operation
National
Name of a part of the country
Not applicable
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
Not applicable
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
Not applicable
Relevance
Key instrument
Act 435/2004 on Employment
Objective(s) and target(s)
The Employment Strategy gives an objective of retraining as "limited acquisition of basic entrepreneurial skills through retraining by job-seekers" (page 18).
Year of implementation
2004
Year of latest amendment
2016
Operation/management
The retraining and retraining by choice for individuals is funded from ESF projects during the current EU programming period, mainly VDTP II (around 85-90 % of all retraining of individuals). These projects are managed by the Labour Office. The Labour Office evaluates requests for retraining from job seekers and job applicants registered in the Labour Office. Costs of retraining by choice and retraining mandated by the Labour Office (grants for individuals) are reimbursed to the education provider.
Eligible group(s)
All job applicants, who choose to retrain and who are required to complete it by the Labour Office.
Group(s) with preferential treatment
Labour Office documents claim that the grant is intended primarily for people requiring special care, the hearing impaired, the socially excluded, and people with low or outdated qualifications. As the assignment of the grant appears to be arbitrary, it can only be assumed that people from these groups are more likely to receive the grant, but we cannot verify this.
Education and training eligible
Occupational courses of all kinds are eligible. Vocational training aimed at deepening or upgrading of qualification, re-training, re-skilling, updating of skills and competences. According to Act 435/2004 on Employment, Para 108, Part 1, Retraining is understood as gaining new qualifications, upgrading, broadening, or deepening of a prior qualification, including updating and renewal of skills and competences. Retraining (re-qualification) is also gaining a first qualification by a person who had no prior formal qualification. When defining the content and extent of retraining (re-qualification), the following factors are taken into account: prior qualification, health conditions, skills, competences, and experience of a physical person to be retrained through gaining new theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the frame of continuing vocational education.
Source of financing and collection mechanism
In the current programming period, retraining and retraining by choice for individuals is funded from ESF projects, namely VDTP II (around 85-90 %). These projects are managed by the Labour Office. The EU contribution is 82.38 %, the state budget covers 17.62 %.
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
Public funding is up to 100% of retraining costs. In the case of retraining by job-seekers' own choice (i.e. not determined by PES but by the person alone) the maximum amount of reimbursement is CZ 50 000 (EUR 1 980) over a 3-year period. The money is transferred to the training provider upon completion of the course. The learner may be requested to cover the training costs in case of violating relevant rules such as mandatory presence at the course.
Eligible costs
Tuition fees/fees for participation (external providers)
Volumes of funding
Volumes of funding disbursed:2017: CZK 174 338 000 (approx. EUR 6 843 762)2018: CZK 128 410 000 (approx. EUR 4 945 123)2019: CZK 94 754 000 (approx. EUR 3 762 376)
Beneficiaries/take up
Number of retrained individuals: 2017: 18 1742018: 13 2412019: 9 561
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Monitoring/evaluation reports available
Hora O. at al., Vyhodnocenķ rekvalifikacnķch programu realizovanżch v Ceské republice v roce 2016 (Assessment of retraining (re-qualification) programmes implemented in Czechia in 2016) https://www.vupsv.cz/download/vyhodnoceni-rekvalifikacnich-programu-rea… It should be noted that this evaluation study, although very new (published 1/9/2020), concerns the year 2016 and so does not relate to the last three years for which statistics are presented in this online questionnaire (2017, 2018, 2019). Additionally, a discrepancy in the number of beneficiaries between this evaluation and the 2016 Analysis on the Development of Employment (from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) suggests that the scope of the evaluation is limited to a subset of retraining conducted under this instrument, making it of limited utility.
Most relevant webpage - in English
Not available
Most relevant webpage - local language
https://www.mpsv.cz/web/cz/prace-a-zamestnani#vzdelani-a-kvalifikace
Recent changes

2016. The instrument has been started to be funded from the ESF budget. There is no official explanation. It is rather the unofficial policy (especially in the area of education and social policies) to preferentially use ESF funds when possible.

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Re-qualification, https://portal.mpsv.cz/sz/obcane/rekvalifikace
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Active Policy for Employment - Expenses, http://portal.mpsv.cz/sz/stat/vydaje
On this page: