Improving the quality and efficiency of education and training

Particularly important for the development of the quality of the adult learning sector in Bulgaria is the legal basis regulating the sector, which is at present partial and dispersed among various legal acts.

In this respect it is obligatory to legally define the notion “quality of adult education and training” as a category and to introduce a system of its assurance.

4.2.1. Quality assurance system

In fulfillment of the strategic documents in Bulgaria programmes, projects and measures, aimed at assurance of the quality and the effectiveness of adult learning have been implemented. A national qualification framework has been developed and adopted. State educational standards for acquisition of vocational qualification by professions have been developed and endorsed. Measures for upgrading the

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qualification of teachers in the school education system, lecturers in the higher schools and directors of training institutions have been taken. Centres for fostering entrepreneurship have been established and function at the higher schools.

An information system for assessment of the competences of the workforce is under development.

Based on the achievements so far a system for quality assurance in the adult education sector will be developed and introduced. The network of institutions and organizations, offering formal education and training and non-formal training in the different geographic areas will be used. There are about 800 licensed centres for vocational education which provide training to unemployed. The range of potential learners in the different geographic areas has been expanded and their effectiveness and employability improved; the centres for vocational education offer courses for training of adults in a wide range of professions, programmes and schemes for motivational training, literacy courses, professional guidance, training in key competences. A functioning system for accreditation, licensing and control over the providers of vocational education and training is in place. There is a national network of 37 information desks for provision of information and consultations to employers and employees. Electronic platforms for adult learning have been constructed.

The following opportunities have not been addressed yet:

Improvement of the legislation in the field of adult education and training;

Development and application of methodologies and systems for workplace-based learning/training;

Enhancing the application of the modular approach in adult training; Expanding the scope of mobility of adult learning and introduction of a system for monitoring;

Intensification of scientific research and analyses to the end of formulation adequate policies for adult education and training;

Improvement of the flexibility of the professional gymnasiums/schools and their ability to take into account the needs of the labour market;

Collection of quality information on adult education and training in the system of school education and continuing education in the higher education system;

Carrying out surveys for collection of qualitative information regarding the attitudes and the needs of the potential adult learners;

Introduction of a system for validation of knowledge, skills and competences, acquired through non-formal training and informal learning;

Ensuring of a modern material and technical training environment as well as didactic and financial resources;

Development of specialized textbooks and learning aids for training of adults, adapted to the different forms of training;

Formulation of the main tendencies in the development of the continuing training in the higher education system.

4.2.2. In regard to the qualification of the human resources, there is a need for:

Increase of the number of highly qualified teachers, trainers and specialists who apply modern teaching approaches in adult training;

Update of the qualification of adult trainers;

Acquisition of a diploma / document after completion of educational level / course in andragogy;

Ensuring legal conditions for continuing qualification of adult trainers; Making use of the professionalism of perfectly prepared lecturers from the higher education system;

Beneficial cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises / branch organizations to the end of practical training of students in real working conditions.

4.2.3. Funding system as an important lever for quality assurance

It is characterized by:

Vouchers introduced as a new financial mechanism for training of adults – both unemployed and people in employment;

Development of mechanisms for systematic funding of the continuing education of individuals;

Free state education and training of adults for acquisition of basic / secondary education;

Provision of trainings by the professional gymnasiums / schools for acquisition of professional qualification by adults.

4.2.4. Forecasting the needs

A system of forecasting the needs for workforce on the labour market is under development. It requires:

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Developing administrative capacity for permanent monitoring and assessment of the implementation of activities, related to the improvement of the quality in the adult learning sector;

Developing a system for analysis, study, identification and forecasting the needs for adult learning.

4.2.5. Cooperation among stakeholders

Current state of the art

There is a lack of coordinated interaction and appropriate tools (incl. monitoring and assessment of the policies) among the stakeholders in the adult learning sector, as well as of a special body for social dialogue on the existing problems.

There is a lack of an institution for external evaluation, authorized with rights and responsibilities in the field of quality assurance in the sector.

Necessary actions

Improvement of the legal framework regulating the civil society participation and development of a mechanism for participation and reaching consent;

Setting up of a National Council for Lifelong Learning to the end of better coordination among the stakeholders, including on district and local level. 4.2.4. Proposals for improvement of the quality and the effectiveness in the adult learning sector:

Definition of objectives, interlinked with those of the European Agenda for Adult Learning and the National Programme for Development: Bulgaria 2020, with a specific focus on consultations and support to the training institutions;

Examination of the whole cycle of quality – planning, application, evaluation, review and corrective actions;

Development and introduction of a model for monitoring of the adult learning sector as well as a Methodological guide for monitoring of the sector. Training of representatives of the stakeholders in application of the developed model;

Ensuring feedback from the consumers of educational services – trainees and employers – in the process of quality assurance;

Establishment of a National information system for adult learning;

Development of tools and platforms for electronic training to the end of inclusion of new target groups - people with disabilities and people living in remote areas in particular;

Alleviation of the poverty and social isolation of specific groups of the population, which underpins their low motivation and limited opportunities for