Situation of vocational education in Latvia: its future perspectives

More than 60% of the Latvian population responding to the question - what education is to be obtained for youngsters after compulsory education - indicate that it is better to acquire academic education in order to get well-paid decent jobs. The tendency is common in the East and the new EU member states, whereas in the old EU member states there is an opposite tendency - more than 60% of the respondents suggest to take a vocational qualification, i.e., to obtain advanced education according to vocational programmes. To compare with the time period 2000-2007 the number of Latvian population is expected to decrease rapidly - approximately by 69 thousand. In the case of dynamic development after the year 2013 the most considerable lack of workforce will be in the middle-level professional jobs. Consequently, the prestige of vocational education is falling. Globally speaking, what concerns the proportion of the number of expelled learners Latvia takes the first positions among the other EU member States? Planning supportive measures of the EU Structural Fund the aim has been set - to ensure that in the year 2013 36% primary school graduates continue their education in vocational education programs (26% in 2006), as a result of which the total number of vocational education institutions is expected to amount to 32 000. Studying the experience of other EU states one can conclude that involvement of employers in education and qualification processes is a crucial prerequisite for education development according to market demand. Conclusion: More than 60% of the Latvian population responding to the question-what education is to be obtained for youngsters after compulsory education- indicate that it is better to acquire academic education in order to get well-paid decent jobs, whereas in the old EU member states there is an opposite tendency - more than 60% respondents suggest to take a vocational qualification, i.e., to obtain advanced education in vocational programmes. To compare with the time period 2000-2007 the number of Latvian population during the next seven years is expected to fall more rapidly - approximately by 69 thousand. After the year 2013 the most considerable lack of workforce will be in the middle-level professional jobs. Globally speaking, what concerns the proportion of the number of expelled learners Latvia takes the lead among the other EU member States? Planning the supportive measures of the EU Structural Fund the aim has been set - to ensure that in the year 2013 36% primary school graduates continue their education in vocational education programs (26% in 2006), as a result of which the total number of vocational education institutions is expected to amount to 32 000. Studying the experience of other EU countries it is obvious that involvement of employers in education and qualification processes is crucial to develop education system and ensure the balance in a market.