Euro 2.2 Million Euro of Swiss support for vocational training

TIRANA, Feb. 3 – Vocational education is an area where Swiss assistance has been abundant in Albania since 1994. In view of this, a new agreement was signed today for extending Swiss support into a third phase of the highly successful AlbVET project. Swiss Ambassador in Tirana, Yvana Enzler signed on behalf of the Swiss government, while the Minister of Education Myqerem Tafaj and Minister of Labor Ksera signed from the Albanian side. Among those present was the Swiss Cooperation’s Country Director, Isabel Perich, officials from both ministries as well as staff from the implementing agency, Swisscontact.
“We are happy to extend our assistance in an area where we have proven that change can take place”, said Ambassador Enzler. “A developed vocational education system will result in better employment opportunities for young people”, continued Ambassador Enzler. She also mentioned the example of “Beqir ȥla” vocational school in Durr쳠which is an excellent case of a functional professional school with fully-equipped workshops, new curricula and modern education approaches.
Minister Tafaj also expressed his belief that by developing the vocational education sector there will be better opportunities for young people to find employment. He praised the successful cooperation between the Albanian and the Swiss governments in projects like this.
Based on this agreement, Swiss expertise and finance will be made available for strengthening and expanding vocational education and training in Albania. Approximately 2.2 million Euro will be used to finance the project with the aim of creating a vocational education and training system that meets European standards. Previous results from this project include the introduction of vocational curriculum and qualifications, upgrading of schools – renovations and refurbishments, creation of links with businesses and the job market, and the successful graduation of thousands of young people.
The project will run until June 2014 and it envisages the establishment of vocational education qualifications from the Ministry of Education, the involvement of private businesses for internships and on-the-job training, and the capitalisation and dissemination of good experiences and lessons learnt. The final aim is to make vocational education sustainable and beneficial for the Albanian society and economy. Swisscontact – a highly reputed and specialised organisation – will be implementing the project with guidance from the Swiss Cooperation Office in Albania.
Switzerland is the second biggest donor in Albania in the area of vocational education support and it provides 22% of all international contribution to this sector. The first phase of Swiss support (1994-2001) focused on rehabilitation, while later the AlbVET project also addressed policy issues and introduced systemic changes that recognize vocational education as a viable form of preparing young people for gainful employment.