EU: Albania, with high needs to certify knowledge outside of school

2024-05-09 14:15:00, Aktualitet CNA

Due to the high informality in the labor market and the high level of emigration, the working-age population of Albania possesses knowledge of trades and professions, which are not certified.

Illegal occupations reduce benefits for employees and become an obstacle to intermediation in the labor market.

The European Training Foundation, which operates under the umbrella of the European Commission, in a recent study found that Albania should increase vocational courses in order to certify the knowledge that many people already have about trades.

Since the high emigration, many Albanians have acquired trades and professions from work experience. They are equally capable or even more than those who graduate from a vocational school, but do not have a certificate, which is recognized and serves for their integration in the labor market.

As the study shows, in Albania there are many providers of professional courses, especially from the private sector, but they are not accredited.

The growing offer of courses is high (of which 12 are public and 833 private) that can contribute to the validity of knowledge.

In addition, there are great opportunities for informal learning from enterprises, social partners, youth organizations and adult organizations through local and international actors.

In 2017, a good model for the certification of knowledge from work started to work, but it was limited by a government decision in 2021

The initiative to certify previous knowledge for bakery and pastry professionals was successfully implemented from 2017 to 2021 by AlbContact Center, a private provider of Professional Education licensed by the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

It came as a constant need from people seeking recognition of skills acquired at work, during emigration, in their community.

Albanian immigrants who had worked abroad in the production of bread and pastries in EU countries wanted to open a business in their country.

Also, many young people with trades need a certificate to enable a regular contract after the internship.

About 70 people certified their previous learning outcomes, receiving the title "Master" or "Assistant Master". The procedure included three steps: assessment (assessment), documentation and certification of knowledge.

The evaluation was carried out in a real working environment (bakery). In addition, the candidates were evaluated by an evaluation committee consisting of specialty experts (eg Master in Bakery), representatives from business, academics and German experts.

However, the project stopped due to the entry into force of VKM no. 756 dated 9.12.2021 "On the recognition system of previous learning of knowledge", which defines the criteria and difficult conditions to fulfill.

ETF points out that Albania's needs for the certification of the knowledge that is already available are very high./Monitor