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Responsible Bodies for Vocational Training - Latvia
Source: Latvian National Observatory
The Law on Vocational Education passed in 1999 determines the competence of bodies responsible for the organisation of vocational education:
The Cabinet of Ministers:
Ministry of Education and Science
The Ministry of Education and Science:
develops model statutes for vocational education establishments;
develops and up-dates the register of professional standards;
develops and submits budget proposals for the acquisition of state budget funding, and funds the vocational education establishments and support institutions under its jurisdiction from means granted for this purpose;
drafts regulations concerning organisation of practical training placements and other normative acts on vocational education;
organises the provision of vocational guidance and studies on the development of the labour market and market demand;
hires and dismisses directors of vocational schools under the authority of the MES;
submits proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers concerning the establishment, reorganisation and closing of state education establishments;
performs other functions related to vocational education named in this law and the Law on Education.
Within the Ministry of Education and Science, the Vocational Training and Continuing Education Department (VTCED), as well as the Professional Education Centre (PEC) under its jurisdiction, deal with vocational education.
The VTCED develops national policy and strategy in vocational education and implements them in co-operation with other state institutions. It plans, manages and co-ordinates the development of vocational education on the national level, supervises state operated vocational education establishments, co-operates with employers’ organisations and unions, supplies technical support for the Council for Tripartite Co-operation in Vocational Education. The VTCED harmonises vocational education policy with the requirements of the EU and participates in the development of international agreements. It is also in charge of the implementation of college level vocational education in Latvia.
The PEC organises the accreditation of vocational education establishments and programmes and the development of professional standards, develops the content and methodology of qualifying examinations, co-ordinates the activities of training and examination centres, and holds in-service training courses for vocational education teachers.
The Ministry of Education and Science performs the accreditation of continuing and further vocational training programmes, which are granted the capacity to confer a government-recognised qualification.
Other ministries:
The Ministry of Welfare is responsible for the training and retraining of the unemployed.
Local governments:
The Law on Education proscribes that it is the competence of regional governments to organise adult education. Within regions, there are local government funded Adult Education Centres. However, it depends to a large extent on the head of the local government how much (if at all) is invested in the continuing education of the local population.
Social dialog and the involvement of social partners
In 2000 the Subcommittee of the Tripartite Council for Co-operation in Vocational Education and Employment was established. The Subcommittee of the Tripartite Council for Co-operation in Vocational Education and Employment is a part of the institutional system of the National Tripartite Council for Co-operation which has been established with the purpose of promoting the co-operation of the government, employer and employee organisations concerning the planning and implementation of national policy and of strategy in vocational education and employment. The most significant issues to pass before the committee in the year 2000 are the following: the draft of the Latvian National Employment Plan for 2001; the development of training programmes to meet labour market requirements; the procedure for organising practical training placements; the centralised procedure for conferring vocational qualifications; the Law on Benefits for Job-seekers and the Unemployed; the establishment of a register of professional standards.
In April, 2000 the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia passed the statutes of the Council for Co-operation in Vocational Education. This council includes one representative each of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Latvian Union of Local Governments, the Latvian Employers Confederation, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Latvian Confederation of Free Trade Unions and one representative each of the vocational education establishments under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture.
In contrast to the Subcommittee of the Tripartite Council for Co-operation in Vocational Education and Employment, the Council for Co-operation in Vocational Education includes representatives from vocational education establishments. The most significant issues examined by the Council in 2000 include the model statute of colleges; the model agreement for practical training placements; the establishment of the Valmiera Vocational Training Centre; the organisation of training for the unemployed; in-service training for teachers at vocational education establishments.
From March to June 2001, the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) organised debates on the draft of the Life-long Learning Memorandum. During this time there were discussions on the six main themes, individual interviews, as well as a closing conference. The MES put forth the drawing up of recommendations for the White Paper on Life-long Learning in Latvia as one of the objectives of the debates.
In 2000 and 2001, within the framework of the EU programme Socrates, adult education and human resource development plans were developed in 12 districts in Latvia. This work was headed by the Latvian Association of Education for Adults. Participants in the development of the plans included local government employees, school staff and business people. This work served to explode a few myths concerning the situation in education for adults and allowed each local government to become aware of priorities in human resource development.
One impact of the development strategy is the statement of intent signed by the Jelgava Regional Council, the Jelgava Town Council and the State Revenue Service Regional Office in Zemgale on the establishment of the Zemgale Regional Training and Development Centre. It is intended that this centre will co-ordinate, plan and organise adult education and continuing training in the region.
The Subcommittee of the Tripartite Council for Co-operation in Vocational Education and Employment deal with issues of both initial and continuing vocational training.
Vocational education in Latvia is regulated by the following laws passed by the Saeima (parliament).
The Law on Craftsmanship (1993), determines the basis for education in the crafts professions.
The Law on Education (1998), with revisions of 10 May and 5 June, 2001, regulates the education system as a whole, determines the rights and responsibilities of the state, local governments, public organisations, professional associations, private persons, educational establishments, parents and students, as well as the types and levels of education and the types of educational establishments.
The revisions of the Law on Education which came into force on 1 September 2001 define introductory vocational education as the systematic acquisition of knowledge and skills, as well as attitudes in art, culture and sport alongside studies at the primary or secondary level of education, that makes it possible to prepare for studies in vocational education in the chosen sector.
The Law on Vocational Education (1999), with revisions of 5 July 2001 determines:
In 2000-2001 the following normative acts concerning vocational education were passed:
Cabinet of Ministers Regulations (CMR) No. 41 (2000) “On the procedure for conferring documents which attest to the acquisition of vocational education and qualifications as well as documents concerning the partial completion of an accredited programme of vocational education”. These regulations will no longer be in force as of 4 August 2001, when the Regulations No. 399 (2001) “On the procedure for conferring state authorised documents which attest to the acquisition of vocational education and qualifications as well as documents concerning the partial completion of an accredited programme of vocational education”.
CMR No. 211 (2000) “Regulations on the national vocational secondary education standard and the national vocational education standard”. These regulations determine national standards for vocational education and vocational secondary education.
CMR No. 303 (2000) “Regulations on the minimum expenditure per student for the implementation of vocational education programmes”. These regulations determine the minimum expenditure per student for the implementation of basic vocational education, vocational education, vocational secondary education and first level higher vocational education programmes.
CMR No. 304 (2000) “Regulations on Professional Standards” authorise the Ministry of Education to determine the professional standards for qualifications of level one, two, three and four after obtaining the approval of the Subcommittee of the Tripartite Co-operative Council on Vocational Education and Employment, if these standards are not set by other regulatory documents.
CMR No. 347 (2000) “Regulations on the required education and professional qualification of teachers” determine the educational and professional requirements for teachers according to the various teaching profiles. These regulations will be in force as of 1 September 2004 for teachers of basic, secondary and first level higher vocational education.
CMR No. 383 (2000) “Regulations on vocational qualifications which are acquired by sitting centralised qualifying examinations” confirm the list of second and third level qualifications which are conferred after the sitting of centralised qualifying examinations. They will enter into force on 1 September 2001.
CMR No. 141 (2001) “Regulations on the national education standard for first level higher vocational education” determine the standard for first level higher vocational education.
CMR No. 190 (2001) “The procedure for delegation by the state to non-government organisations of certain administrative and support functions for vocational education” determines that an office of public administration may delegate functions which have been assigned to it to a non-government organisation by signing an agreement on the delegation of these functions.
Decree No. 57 (2000) of the Ministry of Education and Science “On the STATUTE for qualifying examinations in industrial and crafts training programmes” determines how qualifying examinations are organised, run, and funded, and also defines which students have the right to sit these examinations.
Decree No. 219 (2001) of the Ministry of Education and Science “On the model statute for colleges”.
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