Non-formal education - Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

The current situation in the vocational education area was analyzed and problems existing in this
field were reflected on the project, also were made suggestions on its development.
Development program for technical and vocational education (2006-2009) had been presented for
conformity to the Cabinet of Ministries.
Problems in non-formal and vocational education in Azerbaijan Republic:
A vast majority of material and technical base of the vocational institutions is lagging behind in
demand of market economy. Currently, all equipment used at institutions have become useless.
Professional schools and lyceums have not been equipped with visual and training technical aids,
new computers, modern machines, instruments since 1991.
The number of computers and other equipment is not so much than needed at the vocational
institutions.
The number of staff worked at professional schools, and lyceums is not enough.
The number of pupils studied at professional institutions has significantly decreased over the last
years.
The number of students admitted to the professional schools in the developed countries is 40-50%,
whereas this number in Azerbaijan is 5-8 percent.
Approximately 325,000 people from the occupied territories require jobs they lost during the armed
conflict. The majority of them expect to return to their places of permanent residence and to their previous
jobs. Due to inadequate housing and living conditions, they regard their present jobs and homes as
temporary. 49 Training and hostel buildings of the vocational education institutions are settled by the
IDPs (internally displaced persons).
The State standards in the vocational education are not being prepared as well. It makes difficult to
prepare the new training plan and programs, textbook and teaching materials.
The funds from the state budget are not sufficient for the strengthening and developing of material
and technical base of institutions; purchasing stock, fuel, and lubricating materials, ensuring social
protection of pupils (scholarship, food, special clothes, the hostels), utility, overhaul of the building,
plant, and other buildings, improving the skill of staff.
On the other hand, there are several international (Funded by European Union and United States of
America) organizations working in Azerbaijan Republic to support development of non-formal education
(creating Adult Vocational Education Centers, providing consultancy for the existing VET schools in
Azerbaijan, training and retraining of the existing trainers in specific fields, Administrative support as
well as supporting centers with necessary utilities and computerizing all the documentations).
Financing of Non-Formal Education
State investments in non-formal education
– Vocational training and professional development of employees of enterprises, offices and
organizations
– Vocational training, professional development and retraining of job seekers and unemployed
citizens
– Modernizing In-Service Teacher Training
Expenses allocated for education in the state budget increase from year to year. These expenses
and became 1,673,170,653 $. Expenses for technical vocational and secondary professional education
became 90 971 166 $.
In addition, education expenses per capita are on the rise. Education expenses per capita have
increased 2 times in higher education, 1,8 times in pre-school and general secondary education, 1,7
times in vocational education, and 1,6 times in technical vocational education.
In contrast to other education programs, vocational education institutions are financed by the
government. The amounts allocated for vocational education institutions by the state budget are on the
rise. Growth has been between 1, 3 and 1, 6% per year between 2004-2010 (see diagram 3).
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