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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

National qualifications framework to be drafted

Belgrade, 27 December 2006

Assistant Minister of Education and Sport for Secondary Education Bogoljub Lazarevic announced today that in the course of 2007 the Ministry will begin drafting the national qualifications framework on the basis of which, in line with European principles, all education levels will be classified.

Speaking about the results of reforms regarding secondary education at the annual conference, which are part of the project themed "The Copenhagen Process in Serbia", Lazarevic said that the document will define in detail which type of diploma and degree are needed for every occupation.

He said that a committee has been formed to draft the national qualifications framework adding that it comprises representatives of other ministries, institutions, boards, the chamber of commerce and entrepreneurs. He also added that a great deal of work will be performed by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy.

According to Lazarevic, the document will not be completed in the course of 2007 since the drafting of the same document took four years on average in other EU countries.

Lazarevic recalled that ministers from EU member countries adopted the Copenhagen Declaration in 2002 dedicated to the reform of secondary education. He also said that Serbia is in the so-called pre-accession stage and is allowed to use all funds to finance the implementation of these reforms.

He stressed that the most important tasks of the Department for Secondary Education in the next year will be to additionally invest in teachers' professional training, quality ensurance as well as drafting an action plan for the implementation of the Strategy for Secondary Education and Strategy for the Education of Adults.

Assistant Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy Radmila Bukumiric-Katic pointed out that the priority of the National Employment Service is to provide a professional and competent workforce, noting that the reform of education and labour market are connected.

Bukumiric-Katic noted that out of a total of 900,000 registered uneployed on the job market, one-third posess secondary vocational education and unable to respond to employers' requests whereas there are over 100,000 registered unemployed persons without primary school education.