DOMINO is a true success story, said Prеsident of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard about the Bulgarian-Swiss project for the introduction of dual education in Bulgaria at the final and closing session of the Forum on Dual Education. Since September 2015 the Forum has been actively working within the DOMINO Project, which is implemented with the financial support of the Bulgarian-Swiss Cooperation Programme.
President Leuthard, who paid an official visit to Bulgaria on 2 November, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, Swiss Ambassador Denis Knobel and Deputy Minister of Science and Education Tanya Mihailova attended the closing session of the Forum.
The dual education system has been proven and successful in Switzerland and the youth are part of this success, said President Leuthard. More than 75 %of the young Swiss go for vocational training, while the academic education is open to them as the whole system is transparent. Bulgaria has to find its own way to dual education and the partnerships between business, schools, trade unions, local authorities, NGOs and the other stakeholders is already part of the success. President Leuthard confirmed the Swiss support for the introduction of dual education in Bulgaria.
If Bulgaria has to have a priority, this is education, said Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev. He acknowledged that Swiss support for nit not just investing in the joint project for dual education, but also for sharing its experience. The commitment of the business to the introduction of dual education is one of the project’s achievements. “Starting as a project DOMINO should continue as a state policy”, pointed out Deputy Prime Minister Donchev.
The quality results in education come in partnership, said Deputy Minister of Science and Education Tanya Mihailova. The DOMINO is more than successful: 15 vocational schools were in the plan, while after the first two years of the five-year project they are already 32.
The sustainability of dual vocational education in Bulgaria was the main topic of the Forum’s discussions. Concluding its work, the Forum presented three tangible proposals: an unit within the Ministry’s Directorate “Vocational education and training” to take over the activities of the introduction of dual education Bulgaria; the National Coordination Group to act permanently; establishing a network at both, national and local level for coordination and share of experience on vocational education and particularly dual education.
While the Forum was working, students from dual classes in Pernik and Kazanlak, teachers, representatives of the institutions and business had informal talks with Swiss President Doris Leuthard, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev and Deputy Minister of Science and Education Tanya Mihailova.
2nd of November will be unforgettable day for several students from the Vocational School for Textile and Tourism “St. Ivan Rilski” – Pernik. They took part in preparation of the official lunch for the presidents of Switzerland and Bulgaria Doris Leuthard and Rumen Radev, and received their congratulations.
About the DOMINO Project:
With a total budget of 3,5 million Swiss francs, DOMINO, Dual education for the modern requirements and needs of society supports the reforms in the system of the professional education. Since 2015 it is introducing the modern dual-track training based of the Bulgarian traditions and the experience of Switzerland, the country with the world’s recognized system of the dual training and the lowest youth unemployment rates. Gradually, the hours in a real work environment will grow and at the end of their education the students will spend two days a week at school, while in the other three days they will be working and paid in companies which are part of the dual educational system.
Dual education under the Swiss model (learning by working) is spread across the country: Sofia, Pleven, Ruse, Dobrich, Burgas, Yambol, Sliven, Kazanlak, Stara Zagora, Plovdiv, Pernik, Kyustendil, Sevlievo, Zlatitsa, Varna, Sandanski, Troyan, Radomir and Panagyurishte. Starting in 2015 with 81 students, two vocational schools and two professions, DOMIMO education is currently expanded to over 800 students in 32 vocational schools, eight professions, as well as 170 leading Bulgarian and foreign companies are partners of the project. In May 2017, the first 20 DOMINO students graduated from the Vocational School “Ivan Hadzhienov” in Kazanlak (south Bulgaria) and most of them are having now permanent job in the companies where they had had their apprenticeships.