Vocational Education and Training in LATVIA Mobility in Romania 08/05/ /05/2016 Project No LVO2-KA

External factors influencing VET in Latvia Demographics Economic background Labour market Employment policies relevant to VET Regulation of access to occupations/professions Project No LVO2-KA

Diagram of the national education system Project No LVO2-KA

Government-regulated VET provision Initial vocational education is highly regulated by the State. The education development guidelines (Saeima, 2014) set the policy priorities while the Vocational Education Law (Saeima, 1999a) provides legal regulations. Project No LVO2-KA

VET pathways Initial vocational education basic vocational education; secondary vocational education; professional higher education: (i) first-level professional higher (college) education; (ii) second-level professional higher (university) education. Project No LVO2-KA

Basic vocational education Programmes are mostly provided by basic vocational education schools for young people (at least 15 years old) regardless of their previous education. They lead to a certificate of basic vocational education that allows progression to secondary level education and professional qualification at EQF level 3 (such as cook’s assistant or carpenter’s assistant). Project No LVO2-KA

Secondary vocational education At upper secondary level, vocational education and vocational secondary education programmes are available for students with a certificate of basic education. Vocational education programmes are provided by vocational schools and lead to a certificate of vocational education and professional qualification at EQF level 4 (such as a hairdresser or a visagiste ). These programmes do not give a right to enter higher (tertiary) education. For admission to higher education a one-year intermediate general secondary education ‘bridge programme’ must be followed. Project No LVO2-KA

Vocational secondary education programmes are provided by vocational secondary schools and technical schools, and lead to both a diploma of vocational secondary education and professional qualification at EQF level 4 (such as a car mechanic or an accountant). Vocational secondary education students must also take State exams in the following general subjects: Latvian, mathematics, foreign language and one subject selected by the student. This provides students with a certificate of general secondary education and the right to enter higher education. Project No LVO2-KA

Post-secondary education programmes They are designed primarily for 18 to 20 year-old general secondary school graduates to help them acquire vocational skills. In 2014/15, these programmes have been offered to 17 to 29 year-old students with basic or secondary education in the ‘youth guarantee initiative’ using ESF support. Project No LVO2-KA

Youth Guarantee - demanded profession in a short period of time The aim of Youth Guarantee programme is to promote the unemployed youths’ entrance into labour market, especially by implementing measures that improve the skills and abilities corresponding to the labour market demand, and acquiring practical experience at work place. Project No LVO2-KA

Branches Building Transport and Logistic Construction Woodworking Art and Design Architecture Heat, Water and Gas Technology Tourism, Catering and Hospitality Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies Chemical industry Forestry Health and Care Beauty Metal processing and mechanical engineering Printing Food industry Power engineering Mechanics (car) Textiles and production of clothes and leather products Agriculture and Gardening Commerce and Administration Project No LVO2-KA

mechanical engineering technician computer system technician transport carriage technician transport service specialist assistant train driver record-keeper railway network technician train driver railway logistics and safe traffic technician layout specialist of printing works specialist of finishing the printed works railway automatics, telemechanics and communication, railway locomotive technician technician of railway transport organization and traffic safety controller metalware performer accountant commercial service specialist secretary client service specialist welder printing industry technician chemistry technician electrician multimedia design specialist (WEB design) multimedia design specialist (Animation) video operator photo design specialist finishing work technician stove setter mason dry construction technician building worker finishing worker auto diagnostician auto locksmith car mechanic auto mechanic road construction technician construction and road building machinery computer systems technician programming technician house manager period cabinet maker wooden structures assembler style furniture designer textile design specialist clothing design specialist leatherware design specialist interior design specialist visual advertising design specialist design specialist of decorative forms environmental design specialist hospitality services specialist babysitter barman catering specialist confectioner cook shop -assistant speciaist of restaurant service specialist of hotel service commercial specialist in tourism utilities technician furniture design specialist Project No LVO2-KA

3 9 VET in Latvia Project No LVO2-KA

VOCATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS TECHNICAL SCHOOLS Project No LVO2-KA VOCATIONAL BASIC SHOOLS VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS Vocational basic school– education establishment that implements vocational basic education programmes leading to the Latvian professional qualification level 1 (EQF level 3) Vocational school– education establishment that implements vocational education programmes leading to the Latvian professional qualification level 2 (EQF level 4) Vocational secondary school– education establishment that implements vocational secondary education programmes leading to the Latvian professional qualification level 3 (EQF level 4) Technical school– education establishment that implements vocational secondary education programmes leading to the Latvian professional qualification level 3 (EQF level 4) and that has gained the status of vocational education competence centre

Continuing vocational education (CVET) Classification of continuing vocational education programmes ProgrammeEducational level Continuing vocational education (480 hours) Integrated primary and lower secondary Continuing vocational education after (non-) completed basic education (480 hours or more ) Professional development after (non-) completed basic education Continuing vocational education after completed secondary education (640 hours or more) Upper secondary Professional development after completed secondary education Project No LVO2-KA

Programmes are always offered for a specific State-recognised qualification/profession: (a) for students with vocational secondary or vocational education to acquire a professional qualification at EQF level 4 (Latvian professional qualification level 3, such as bookkeeper), minimum duration of the programme is hours depending on the field; (b) for those without a prior education requirement to acquire a professional qualification at EQF level 4 (Latvian professional qualification level 2), minimum duration of the programme is 480 or 640 hours depending on the relevant occupation standard; (c) for those without a prior education requirement to acquire a professional qualification at EQF level 3 (Latvian professional qualification level 1) minimum duration of the programme is 480 hours. Project No LVO2-KA

Apprenticeships As defined in the Law on Crafts (Supreme Council, 1993), a ‘craft apprentice’ is a person, who has joined a crafts company or an education institution and signed a training contract. Apprenticeships are not included in the educational programme classification (no relevant ISCED level). Journeyman and master of crafts qualifications can be obtained through apprenticeships. Project No LVO2-KA

VET provision for special target groups The most vulnerable groups are: (a) young job-seekers (aged 15 to 24); (b) pre-retirement age (aged 55 to 64) individuals; (c) long-term (>1 year) unemployed; (d) individuals returning to the labour market after parental leave (six months); (e) individuals with disabilities; (f) individuals caring for a family member; (g) former convicts and former drug addicts; (i) young people with special needs. Project No LVO2-KA

VET IN LATVI A Project No LVO2-KA

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