Vocational Education and Training as a Tool To Ensure Social and Economic Cohesion. National Observatory Country Report. Lithuania, 1999.

Overview & Synopsis

The poor state of the Lithuanian economy has led to a diminishing number of jobs and growing number of unemployed. Statistical data make it evident that the poor standard of education is one cause of unemployment. Stages of vocational education and training (VET) are initial, secondary, and postsecondary. The state oversees operation of education institutions. Education at state and municipal levels in general education, vocational, and college-type schools is free. Higher education is free for students with top-level grades. While the first stage of educational reform focused on building the labor market training system, the second involves increased investment in VET reform and coherent reorganization of the system. Special aspects include VET quality improvement, development of vocational training and career guidance, and teacher training improvement. Areas of human resource development are continuing education, manager and administrator training, and civil servant training. The increasing interest of other countries in the reform process has taken concrete form in bilateral and multilateral projects. Germany has provided tremendous support in development of the initial VET system; many contacts have been established with Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Canada. (Appendixes include a list of acronyms, glossary, 30-item bibliography, and 6 diagrams.) (YLB)