DUSHANBE, November 26, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- A two-day training for heads of initial vocational training facilities was held at the Republican Institute within the Ministry of Education (MoD) in Dushanbe on November 23-24.   

The source at a MoD said the training is part of the project “The Support to Vocational Education and. Training in Tajikistan - phase II,” which is implemented by German Adult Education Association (DVV International) under financial support of the European Commission.  

The training participants included heads of initial vocation training facilities from Dushanbe, Khujand, Qurghon Teppa, Kulob, Konibodom, Sarband, Vahdat and Fayzobod, as well as senior representatives of the adult education centers from Dushanbe, Kulob, Qurghon Teppa, Konibodom and Tojikobod. 

They discussed issues related to the present state of vocational-technical schools in the country and positioning of the vocational-training schools on the market of educational services.  

            61 vocational-technical schools now function in Tajikistan.

The project “The Support to Vocational Education and Training in Tajikistan - phase II”, was launched on January 1, 2008.  The main objective the project is to support the MoD in its efforts to reform the initial vocational education system of the country.

The project includes two major components.  The first component, “Policy advice,” supports the education ministry to define the major reform tasks for the system of initial vocational educational, based on the National Action Plan for VET-reform, accepted by the government.  The second component is dedicated to design and implement at least four curricula in selected occupations based on modern curriculum development approaches. The curricula will be tested during the second year of the project at several VET-schools in different areas of Tajikistan.  A series of trainings for teachers and an equipment component support this process.  The project cooperate with different ministries, state agencies and civil society organizations.