site.bta Bulgaria, Switzerland Sign Agreement on Project for Swiss Support for Introduction of Dual-Track Principles in Bulgaria Vocational Education System

Bulgaria, Switzerland Sign Agreement on Project for Swiss Support for Introduction of  Dual-Track Principles in Bulgaria Vocational Education System

Sofia, April 30 (BTA) - Bulgarian and Swiss officials signed
Thursday an agreement between the two countries on
implementation of a project entitled, "Swiss Support for the
Introduction of the Dual-Track Principles in Bulgaria Vocational
 Education System". The agreement was signed in the Presidency
building, in the presence of President Rosen Plevneliev, by
Swiss Ambassador here Denis Knobel, and four Bulgarian ministers
 - of EU funds management, Tomislav Donchev, of labour and
social policy, Ivailo Kalfin, of education, Todor Tanev, and of
economy, Bozhidar Loukarski.

At the ceremony Ambassador Knobel noted that this is the first
agreement signed with two deputy prime ministers and two
ministers, which is a mark of the commitment and support of all
Bulgarian institutions for the introduction of dual education in
 this country. The diplomat recalled that President Plevneliev
visited the vocational school in Bern and has since become one
of the biggest supporters of the project's implementation in
Bulgaria. Ambassador Knobel said that Bulgaria wants to have an
education system that targets more directly the needs of the
private sector for which a combination of vocational schools and
 private training is required.

Donchev said that the efforts for signing the project started
back in 2010 when the framework agreement on the Bulgarian-Swiss
 programme for cooperation was signed. "We are now faced with
the more difficult phase - the challenge to translate the money
into results," he said.

Plevneliev noted the priority Bulgaria attaches to education and
 said that in the face of Switzerland and its economic
achievements, this country is learning from the best.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister
and Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova and MPs on the
parliamentary Education and Science Committee. After the signing
 Plevneliev opened a meeting of the President's Education and
Science Council which discusses the quality of education and the
 labour market. Attending the meeting are representatives of the
 nationally represented trade unions and employers
organizations, NGOs, education experts.