EU, Germany launch 4-million euro program to strengthen technical and vocational education in the oPt – EU Press release/Non-UN document

Towards Youth Employment Through Strong Cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training

New EU-Programme Launched for Bethlehem, Nablus and Hebron

25 October 2011 — A cooperation programme between the European Union, the German government development program and the partners Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and Ministry of Labour was launched today in the Intercontinental Hotel, in Bethlehem in the presence and under the auspices of the Palestinian Ministers of Education and Higher Education and Labour.

This 4-year EU funded with 4 million € programme, targeting on strengthening and up-scaling the TVET institutions in the three pilot regions of Bethlehem, Nablus and Hebron Governorates and encouraging partnership between local institutions for technical and vocational education and labour market (LET Councils) and the private sector, has started in mid September and will support innovative training and learning concepts oriented on labour market needs. The local partners in TVET and authorities (LET Councils) will steer and supervise the EU-funded programme. The programme is supporting the implementation of the revised National TVET Strategy and contributes to the National Development Plan.

The programme will be executed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development together jointly with the German Program “Promotion of TVET and Labour Market, Palestinian Territories”

Main programme’s objectives include increasing the learning places and processes and make them more effective and relevant to the labour market demand; improving utilization of TVET institutes; and improving attractiveness of the Palestinian TVET sector. “Through strong cooperation between TVET institutions and the private sector and innovative ideas from vocational schools, technical colleges and training centers, this programme will increase the employability of the students and matching education with the demand of the labour market”, Volker Ihde, Head of programme explained.

“Despite a slight increase in the enrolment rate in the TVET system in recent years, the technical and vocational training is unfortunately still considered a second class education. We hope that through improving the quality of the teaching and the potential employability of TVET graduates, this programme will raise the profile of TVET education among Palestinian youth”, said Sergio Piccolo, Head of Operations at the European Union Representative Office for the West Bank, Gaza Strip and UNRWA.

Public TVET institutions, in partnership with the private sector in the three areas, are invited to send their project ideas thus applying for financial support. The Local Employment and Training Councils (LETC) — representing all stakeholders in the areas — are the driving force of the program. This is to guarantee the orientation of all initiatives on the demand of the local economy. Also the private sector organizations and TVET providers will be supported with the aim of enhancing their technical and managerial capacities. Finally the good practices will be disseminated and shall be considered in the national TVET policy decisions.

For further information

Volker Ihde

Programm “Förderung von Berufsbildung und Arbeitsmarkt”

Programme “Promotion of TVET and Labour Market”

Head of Programme,

Tel: 02 241 4064/5