OECD Reviews of Vocational Education and Training Vocational Education and Training in Bulgaria Governance and Funding

Description

Over recent years, Bulgaria has shown great willingness to reform its vocational education and training (VET). Significant challenges remain, however, relating notably to the system's responsiveness to labour market needs and its capacity to ensure equitable outcomes for learners. This report is a focused review of two predefined issues, the governance and funding of VET. These are two fundamental elements within the delivery of skilled VET graduates. The report assesses the strengths of the Bulgarian VET system and the challenges it faces when it comes to governance and funding and suggests policy responses for how these challenges can be addressed. Four specific challenges are identified linked to the governance of the VET system: decision-making powers and capacity; the use of data and evidence to inform policy decisions; social partner engagement; and, oversight of adult VET learning provision. With regard to VET funding, both school level financial autonomy, and the capacity to act upon increased flexibilities, are currently modest. The report argues that potential exists to strengthen collaboration between schools and employers to achieve increased cost-sharing between government and private firms. Finally, more can be done to improve equity in VET delivery through Bulgaria's funding formula. Foreword Executive summary Introduction Governance of VET in Bulgaria Decision-making structure and capacity Using data and evidence to inform policy decisions Social partner involvement Steering adult VET provision Funding of VET in Bulgaria Local level financial autonomy can be improved Collaboration with employers and schools can be strengthened More can be done to tackle the issue of equity Chapter 1. Overview Funding and governance in VET The VET review of Bulgaria Snapshot of the VET system Data on Bulgarian VET Enrolment in VET and educational attainment Adult education Early leavers from education and training Employment rate of recent graduates Main strengths and challenges Strengths Willingness in Bulgaria to reform Bulgaria is developing a new strategy with a medium term vision for VET System of social partner engagement A solid funding arrangement VET is well articulated with the other parts of the education system Challenges Summary of challenges relating to governance Summary of challenges relating to funding References Chapter 2. Governance of vocational education and training in Bulgaria The governance of VET The complexity of VET governance and why it is so important Whole-of-government perspective Balanced allocation of tasks and functions between governance levels Engaging multiple social partners in VET design and delivery Ensuring quality by making sure that decisions are appropriately informed by evidence Governance of VET in Bulgaria Decision-making structure and capacity Challenges in the governance of the Bulgarian VET system In order to increase the labour market responsiveness of vocational provision, Bulgaria is in the process of increasing decision-making autonomy at a local level in relation to the operation of VET The capacity of the Ministry of Education and Science to oversee an overarching strategy for VET is compromised by its lack of capacity NAVET has a limited capacity which can have consequences for its ability to undertake its responsibilities in a reasonable manner Both regions and municipalities are involved in VET governance with tasks mostly linked to implementation and control Policy message and arguments: Consider implementing greater autonomy at a subnational level, while strengthening quality assurance Policy message More autonomy and flexibility delegated to local actors can free up resources for national authorities, but requires capacity building Increased autonomy at the local level requires a stronger national quality assurance system Using data and evidence to inform policy decisions Challenges: There are weaknesses related to collecting and making use of data and evidence within policy decisions Policy message and arguments: Collecting and using data and evidence Policy message Investing in mapping existing data on the outcomes of VET and making it available is crucial in order to steer the system - for Bulgaria this can be a quick win Making sense of VET evidence at a national level Social partner involvement Challenge: The foundations for social partner involvement seem strong, but co-operation can be expanded and capacity to engage increased Bulgaria has developed a strong foundation for social partners’ involvement at a national level, but institutionalised co-operation is concentrated in few areas Challenges in co-operation with social partners appear to be linked to capacity Policy message and argument: Expanding social partner involvement and increasing capacity Policy message Ensuring that employers and trade union representatives have sufficient capacity and that they represent the broad spectrum of VET professions in order to enhance the quality of engagement Expanding the institutionalised engagement of social partners to sectoral and local levels can increase the system’s sensitivity to labour market needs Steering adult VET provision Challenge: The overall participation of adults in VET is low and the quality of provision is uncertain Policy message and supporting arguments: Assure the quality of the VET provision for adults Policy message Improve horizontal collaboration to ensure the adult learning policy is coherent Improving quality assurance mechanisms is essential to raise the attractiveness of provision References Chapter 3. Funding of vocational education and training in Bulgaria Background: Funding of VET Well-crafted funding arrangements can help achieve better quality in education Efficiency in funding arrangements Funding systems should take equity in consideration Funding arrangements should be accountable, transparent and sustainable Many countries use funding formulas to distribute funds Why focus on the funding of VET? At upper secondary level spending on vocational programmes tends to be higher than on general programmes There are differences between countries in how VET is funded The cost and benefits of providing apprenticeships for employers vary between countries, sectors and occupations Issue and challenges: Funding of VET in Bulgaria VET funding arrangements in Bulgaria The funding of VET schools and adult education providers Financial incentives directed towards learners Funding of work-based learning – incentives for employers The overall funding of VET is relatively low, and the Bulgarian employers’ involvement in VET is low Resources spent on education are lower than the European Union average - and are falling Bulgarian employers involvement in upper secondary VET is low School autonomy is low and the collaboration with employers can be strengthened The degree of school-level financial autonomy is low Collaboration between schools and employers can be strengthened More can be done to tackle the issue of equity There are issues about equity in the Bulgarian education system The funding formula does not include criteria to tackle the issue of equity Policy message Policy argument The funding formula should ensure equity and at the same time be transparent and accountable The challenge for funding formulas – transparency versus complexity Use the funding formula to ensure equity Funding criteria based on employment outcomes can be helpful, but should be accompanied with good quality data about such outcomes alongside consideration of other criteria and should be monitored closely Monitor and evaluate funding arrangements School autonomy and cost sharing with employers can provide greater efficiency and better labour market outcomes Where capacity is sufficient to make effective use of resource, increased financial autonomy for the subnational level and schools can increase the labour market relevance of VET Work-based learning has multiple benefits, including the sharing of costs with employers Potential funding to employers should be based on evidence relating to employers’ anticipated costs and benefits Note References Blank Page