19.03.2008. -

The planning documents for implementation of vocational education policy that were developed by the Ministry of Education and Science (hereinafter – the Ministry) are contradictory, set measures and implementation timeframes are not harmonised, and they do not facilitate achievement of goals established in the Vocational Education Law.

Although the Vocational Education Law stipulates that a vocational education programme shall be developed in accordance with the State vocational education standard of the relevant educational level, the Ministry has not developed the standard for several types of vocational education programmes, licensed by the Ministry.

The Ministry does not perform planning of vocation school long term development, as well as does not supervise implementation of school development plans. The Ministry does not assess numbers of vocational school graduates, who are unemployed, and does not analyse these numbers according to vocational education programme groups as well.

Students of vocational schools and of general education establishments are not provided with equal possibilities to continue their education on higher vocational education level.

The Vocational Education Administration subordinated to the Ministry, during the period from 2004 to 2007 has not approved compliance of any technical aids with the State vocational education standard; therefore there is a risk that technical aids at vocational schools are purchased not in accordance with the requirements of the Cabinet Regulation.

The Ministry does not have updated information regarding the necessary financing for implementation of vocational education programmes group in accordance with the existing situation.

Financing for implementation of vocational education programmes is still being calculated on the basis of scientific research paper developed in 1997 “Methodology for Determination Vocational Education System Financing Regulations”.

The Ministry does not provide all technical aids necessary for implementation of education programmes at vocational schools. Several occasions were disclosed, when written-off technical aids, which are not accounted any more, are used in student training process.

Students of vocational schools do not have equal conditions for obtaining their vocational education within the framework of single vocational education programme group. Technical aid purchase costs per one student differ even 26 times – in 2005 from LVL 7.05 to LVL 139.88, and in 2006 from LVL 10.02 to LVL 264.58.

Planning of the number of vocational education pedagogic personnel is not ensure in the country, the Ministry does not aggregate information on teacher training needs and does not provide according possibility to attend further education courses.

Financing allocated by the Ministry for improvement of professional skills and organisation of further education courses per one teacher in the period from 2004 to 2006 was approximately LVL 1 per year, which is insufficient for provision of further education for 4875 vocational education teachers.

The State Audit Office has disclosed significant deficiencies regarding control of qualification practice. 52% students of vocational schools, subordinated to the Ministry, have not completed their qualification practice, as well as during the qualification practice perform tasks not related to specifics of their profession.

The legality audit was concluded on the period from January 1, 2004 to November 30, 2007.

The State Audit Office has developed 49 recommendations to the Ministry after conducting the legality audit. The implementation of recommendations will be followed closely in accordance with the approved recommendation implementation timetable