1. ETUI-ETUCE Seminar, Vilnius 31 March 2011

2. The aim of the seminar To exchange experience on the role of the trade unions in the VET sector To analyse the recent position of VET To gain added value how trade unions can have influence on improving the sector and How teacher unions can contribute to the recovery from the crises

3. THE ETUCE DAY 1 Ms Ruta Osipaviciute, FLESTU president.: VET is essential in Lithuania and social dialogue in this education sector iseffective Ms Maike Koops, European Commission: Adult Learning policies challenges and next steps at European level. Education sectors should cooperate more in the framework of lifelong learning: vocational, adult, non-formal, informal to increase the level of quality. Studies: Adult learning professions, Key competences of staff, future study on financing VET.

4. THE ETUCE DAY 1 Mr Martin Romer, ETUCE: ETUCE answer to the EU VET policies. The EU has strong focus on VET considering its role in the economy. The Commission, the Council of the EU and the Belgian Presidency have all tried to enforce the development of VET recently. Trade unions must follow the new EU initiatives on VET.

5. THE ETUCE DAY 1 ETUCE supports the quality development but highlights more investment in VET - not only from labour market perspective but from a holistic approach. ETUCE opposes to set up additional instruments on forecasting skills to jobs in the framework of skills councils. VET and adult learning should be publicly founded. EU trend: start of privatisation. Lifelong Learning Programmes: projects, mobility European Structural Funds European Neighbourhood European Social Fund

6. THE ETUCE DAY 1 Working Groups Social dialogue and VET: Involvement of teacher unions Group 1: Improving the attractiveness of VET Problems: Crises and high unemployment contributes to low motivation Students without support More unqualified teachers Privatization of VET as an approaching trend Bad conditions, lots of student Low wages and quitting teachers

7. THE ETUCE DAY 1 Working Groups Social dialogue and VET: Involvement of teacher unions Group 1: Improving the attractiveness of VET Proposals: More teacher trainings Guidance and counselling services: for both teachers and students (employability) Bridge between schools and enterprises Media campaign

8. THE ETUCE DAY 1 Working Groups Social dialogue and VET: Involvement of teacher unions Group 2: Economic and demographic challenges Problems: Budget cuts in VET while this is an expensive sector (materials, technological development) Negative image towards VET schools and vocations (schools and Ministries) Low skilled teachers After the crises the public sector professions are attractive

9. THE ETUCE DAY 1 Working Groups Social dialogue and VET: Involvement of teacher unions Group 2: Economic and demographic challenges Proposals to the TUs: Recruitment of more young teachers. More information, better salary, better working conditions, mentoring in VET Supporting measures for different groups in the TU TU should apply for more projects to improve continuous teacher training; Sabbathical leave TU should inform teachers on lifelong learning Social dialogue: enforce government to keep high standard, Better communication, networking among the stakeholders Improve the image of the sector: quality teaching with qualified and experiences teachers. Mixed schools: general and VET

10. THE ETUCE DAY 1 Working Groups Social dialogue and VET: Involvement of teacher unions Group 3: Future profile of teachers Problems: Low status of VET teachers Aging teachers Low salary, bad working conditions, high work load Fewer children Migration

11. THE ETUCE DAY 1 Working Groups Social dialogue and VET: Involvement of teacher unions Group 3: Future profile of teachers Proposals: Role of school leaders is essential More in-depth analyses is necessary to know the present situation Trade unions should harmonize their actions Initial teacher training must be improved

12. THE ETUCE DAY 2 Mr Romualdas Pusvaskis, Ministry of Education and Science: Development of VET and qualification system in Lithuania VET modernisation was achieved with the participation of the social partners: initial and continuous VET and guidance and counseling. Quality of VET : - social partnership, - standards - early identification of skill needs - system of licences - register of study and training programmes - decentralization of governance (status of self-governance), - teachers qualifications are upgraded

13. THE ETUCE DAY 2 Ms Tatiana Babruaskiene: Key competences of VET teachers Project description: good position of the social dialogue in Lithuania where the teacher trade union and the government can cooperate well on the VET development. Project report: in 3 weeks

14. THE ETUCE DAY 2 Working Groups VET, key competences and Lifelong learning Group 1: Changing needs and teachers training Pedagogical development, Professional development: new technology Interactive method Respect of class and society Creation of common platform where teachers exchange teaching methods. Ministries should provide a guidelines on skills needs. Role of the social dialogue: social partners have to cooperate.

15. THE ETUCE DAY 2 Working Groups VET, key competences and Lifelong learning Group 2: VET schools as teachers’ learning environment Establish contacts with employers who provide apprenticeship for students: Teachers can also learn and keep up-to-date The role of trade unions is establishing links between employers and educational institutes Links with pprofessional guilds is valuable: advice on new technology. Reforms in education must be implemented gradually and must take into account the needs of older teachers and who are less likely to endorse big changes. Teachers must teach competencies apart from subjects.

16. THE ETUCE DAY 2 Working Groups VET, key competences and Lifelong learning Group 2: VET schools as teachers’learning environment Trade Unions should be considered as major stake holders in issues of teacher training. Social dialogue should also lead to maintaining quality, and training professionals. Social dialogue should also establish wage benchmarks and improve minimum wages of teachers. Respect for teachers is lacking in many countries and this should be addressed. Trade unionists should participate in training seminars organised by Cedefop and other organisations like European Training Foundation.

17. THE ETUCE DAY 2 Working Groups VET, key competences and Lifelong learning Group 3: TUs’ influence on VET systems on lifelong learning Actions have to be interacted, Quality assurance, less workload and better wages, Key competences should be taught, broader perspective of teaching, Participation in mobility programmes. Teachers must be involved in more dialogue, promotion of social dialogue. Exchange of experience (pedagogical experiences.)

19. ... where to start

20. Future ETUCE activities on VET

21. ETUCE WORK PROGRAMME 2011-2012: ACTIVITIES ON VET (1) - Monitoring and follow-up on the EU VET policy, follow up on the Bruges Communiqué - More representation at EC Working Groups - Establishment of a VET Working Group for 2 years - policy development - policy development - project(s) - project(s) - study

22. ETUCE WORK PROGRAMME 2011-2012: ACTIVITIES ON VET (2) - Monitor and inform on development of guidelines on validation of non-formal and informal learning - Follow up on the implementation of ECVET - Develop policy on quality assurance - Follow-up on skills forecasting, ESCO groups, Professional Qualification Directive

23. www.etuce-csee.org Thank you for your attention!