VET provision financial incentives for qualifications in demand

Decree No 20 of 1 February 2019 of the Council of Ministers amended the Decree No 328 of 21 December 2017 on the rules and requirements for scholarships for students in the dual system and for the learners which study VET specialties protected by the State and VET specialties with labour market shortage. The latest decree guaranteed the sustainability of dual training by ensuring State budget support for learners in the first stage of secondary education (from grade 8 to 10). According to the labour code, learners above the age of 16 (grades 11 and 12) in the dual system conclude a labour contract with the employer where their practical training is provided. They receive payment for social and health insurance by the State budget and remuneration from the employer. Since February 2019, learners in these specialties received additional individual scholarships.

With the last amendments to the Pre-school and School Education Act (coming into force as of January 2020), the travel expenses of students in dual education and in specialities with labour market shortage were also covered.

The enrolment plans of VET schools for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 were focused on providing more places for learners in specialities in qualifications needed by the labour market.

In 2022, the implementation of Support for the dual training system project, implemented by education ministry, continued. The project aims to increase the relevance of VET with the labour market and provides opportunities to increase the qualifications of the future workforce in professions key to the country's economy. The project provides employers with the opportunity to hire qualified personnel with the required vocational/technical skills and experience acquired through training in real work environment. In 2022, more than 10 000 students from VIII to XII classes were enrolled in dual VET. In 2022, the training of mentors and the support for employers to engage more actively in dual training partnerships, continued.

In October 2023, the project Support for the dual training system project was completed. Within the framework of the project, 11 500 students from 180 schools were included in dual VET in partnership with over 690 employers in the country. In 2023, the draft Law on amendment and supplement to the vocational education and training (VET)Act (VETA) was prepared with the aim to modernise relations between VET stakeholders. The draft Law contained provisions for the possibility for training in an electronic environment, improvements to the mechanism for validating knowledge and skills, and changes in the legal requirements for the professional experience of mentors in dual VET. Additionally, it expanded the scope of the required professional qualifications (from profession/specialty to a broader professional field) of trainers. This provides greater opportunities for employers, including small and medium-sized enterprises, to designate an employee responsible for the practical training of students within the respective enterprise. The draft Law also established the possibility for a vocational teacher to take over the functions/duties of the trainer in work-based learning. This approach is expected to encourage smaller schools to participate in dual VET, allowing for greater flexibility in determining education staff matters. The most significant change of the draft law was the provision that makes social and health insurance for students participating in work-based learning (dual VET) mandatory and funded entirely by the state budget.

In March 2024, the Law on amendment and supplement to the vocational education and training Act was adopted and consequently Ordinance No. 1 on the conditions and procedures for conducting work-based learning (dual VET) was updated too. The main amendments and additions to the Ordinance had to do:

1. with the improvement of career guidance services, by organising and implementing career orientation campaigns for students in grades V to VII and their parents, aimed at familiarising them with the dual VET system as well as assisting them in choosing a profession and be aware of career development opportunities;
2. Providing opportunities for students in the first stage of secondary education enrolled in dual VET to familiarise themselves with the activities of partner employers and visit the employer's enterprise;
3. conducting production practice training in cooperation with the partner employer in a real work environment.

In 2024 a new activity for dual VET was approved and will start in 2025. The education ministry decided to expand dual education to universities. The initiative aims to strengthen the connection between education and the labour market in Bulgaria under the programme Education 2021-27. It supports vocational high schools, municipalities, and NGOs in partnership with employers to enhance the dual VET system. The activity focusses on improving students' skills and competences through practical training, developing educational content aligned with labour market needs, and providing training for teachers and mentors. It is expected to enhance career guidance services and to increase participation in dual VET. By fostering cooperation with employers and introducing flexible learning models, the activity is expected to create a more effective, inclusive, and adaptable VET system.