Post on 23-Aug-2020
transcript
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Policy and Practice in the Field of
Special Needs Education Conference
Conclusions and next steps
Mary Kyriazopoulou and Harald Weber
European Agency for Development in SNE
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Main outcomes Policy (Literature Review)
Towards the inclusion of people with disabilities/SEN
into the labour market
• In the last few years there has been a visible shift at the European
level towards integrating people with disabilities/SEN into the labour
market (Lisbon Strategy 2000, 2004, EU 2020 Strategy, etc)
• The European Commission has stressed that the EU 2020 Strategy
will be successful only if the most vulnerable groups are taken into
consideration, and the access of young people with disabilities/SEN
to the labour market is ensured.
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Main outcomes Policy (Literature Review)
Key messages include
• VET should be equitable and efficient.
• The development of high quality VET is a crucial and integral part of the
Lisbon strategy, particularly in terms of promoting social inclusion.
• VET should be addressed to all sections of the population, offering attractive
and challenging pathways to those with high potential, whilst at the same
time addressing those at risk of educational disadvantage and labour
market exclusion, such as people with special needs.
• Official data shows that disabled people continue to be
disproportionately excluded from the labour market.
• The exclusion of people with disabilities from the labour market is a serious
concern. Countries should make it a priority to achieve better results for
learners with special needs, to promote personalised learning and to
integrate services within mainstream schooling
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Main outcomes Policy (Literature Review)
Key Factors Facilitating Vocational, Educational and Training
Programmes for Learners with SEN: Links with the Labour Market
• Co-operation of actors
• Co-ordination of sectors and services
• Learner involvement and individual needs in VET
• Vocational skills and interpersonal knowledge
• Flexible policies and measures
• Relationship between VET and the labour market
• Role of trainers/mentors in VET
• Role of career councellors and implementation of transition plans
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Main outcomes State of the Art in Europe on Policies
• European countries have incorporated the principles of the UN
convention on the rights of persons with disabilities/SEN
• In education and VET legislation the key principles highlighted are:
normalisation, equal opportunities, non discrimination,
inclusive settings, equal opportunities of participation in and
contribution to society, independent living, financial self
sufficiency and autonomy
• Focus on students becoming as highly qualified as possible,
supporting fewer subsidised jobs and sheltered places, as well as
on reducing the numbers of early school leavers.
• Different levels of responsibility to implement the national goals
within their own environment.
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Main outcomes State of the Art in Europe on Practices
Different levels of responsibility: National level
• Ensure a system of education accessible to all citizens
• Focus on co-operation between education and social partners in
order to develop curricula that correspond to the skills needed in
the working life
• Organise and carry out the assessment of competences,
collaborate in establishing the content of new qualifications,
standards and curricula in order to correspond VET programmes
with the need of economy
• Provide different study paths in the upper secondary school based
on the principle that motivation for taking part in education is
greatest when pupils’ choices are satisfied, but at the same time
take into account the future needs of the labour market.
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Main outcomes State of the Art in Europe on Practices
Different levels of responsibility: Regional level
• Provide and operate education/training in accordance to the national
framework and is responsible for the management of VET
institutions, vocational guidance, apprenticeship training and
career planning in co-operation with social partners and NGOs
• Regional advisory boards have an active role in updating the
structure of the educational programmes, in co operation with
social partners
• VET Providers: to increase youth employment, independence
and tackle social exclusion. They provide assistance to the
students, training programmes (vocational and soft skills),
apprenticeship, Transition Plans, social enterprises, advisory
services, etc
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Main outcomes State of the Art in Europe
Key Challenges for VET and the link to the Labour
Market
• Gap between education and labour market
• The transition between school and labour market still need to be
tackled, it is not easy accessible for learners with SEN.
• Employers needs to know how to create an optimal working
environment for learners with SEN
• Working on implementing a new funding system for learners with
SEN in VET that is based on supported measures provided by VET
institutions and development of materials adapted to the learners’
needs
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Main outcomes Policy debate
• Approaches that are required for learners with SEN are
of benefit to all
• Inclusion to start as early as possible
• Challenges of the VET systems similar to those outside
the EU > project outcomes can be used as well
• Link recommendations / outcomes to evidence based
upon research
• Description of steps to be taken at different levels
(Commission, Member States, Schools etc)
• Putting learners with SEN in the center of decision
• Broadening and managing partnerships
• Use of data for monitoring and assessing impact, on
all levels
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Main outcomes VET Experts discussions
• Patterns match with experts’ experiences
• Most patterns were considered strong
• Some patterns will potentially merged
• Despite providing recommendations applicable
to all, a certain level of detail is needed
• Emphasis was given to the inclusive approach
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Next steps
• Final draft of the report, based upon the Conference
outcomes
• Finalisation of the study visit documents (summaries and
long versions)
• Finalisation of the “Analysis of the state of the art in
Europe regarding policies and practices on VET for
learners with SEN“
• Providing easy access to the different project outcomes
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Next steps
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Next steps
Access alternative 1
From the general to the
specific, step by step
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Next steps
Access alternative 2
Quick access to
relevant information
(overview and detail
level)
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Next steps
Access alternative 3
Direct access to
information collected
within the participating
countries
Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Contact us
www.european-agency.org
European Agency for Development in
Special Needs Education
Østre Stationsvej 33
DK-5000 Odense C
Denmark
Phone: +45 64 41 00 20
Fax: +45 64 41 23 03
secretariat@european-agency.org