Govt approves plan to shorten vocational training programs to three years

The government has approved a plan to shorten vocational training programs to three years and place a greater emphasis on practical instruction, state secretary for employment policy at the National Economy Ministry Sándor Czomba said on Tuesday.

The plan, drawn up by the National Economy Ministry to meet the needs of the labor market, is expected to come before Parliament in the autumn, after coordination within the public administration system and a public debate, Czomba said. The new system could be in place from the start of the 2012/2013 academic year, he added.

Hungary's government formed a partnership with the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK) last November on introducing a dual education system in Hungary, one that combines apprenticeships and vocational training.

The main idea behind the dual education system is that vocational training lasts three years, but a bigger emphasis is placed on practical training - possibly even in an apprenticeship - already in the first year, Czomba said at the time. The aim of the change is to give students marketable vocational skills and "re-establish the prestige of manual labour", he added.