Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination

education service. Reform of textbooks and introduction of alternative texts continued in 2007–2008, laying
the foundations to transfer the marketing of textbooks from MES and schools to the free market, with the
education authorities only supervising the content of textbooks and allowing market competition to lead to
lower-price textbooks.
With regard to VET, continuous support and implementation of policies was aimed at strengthening the sector
and making it responsive to market needs. Further efforts shall focus on improving VET curricula, offering
scholarships for students enrolled in these schools, irrespective of economic criteria. Meanwhile, vocational
training modules will be included in high school education with the view of absorbing more students into
vocational education.
3.3.8 higher education
Indicator: Number of students in higher education, by full-time/part-time status
Measures implemented during 2007–2008 aimed at i) curricula reform in first cycle study programmes to
align them with related programmes in higher education institutions across the country, with modularisation
of subjects, ii) introduction of credits as a performance-measuring unit, iii) increase in mobility opportunities
for students, and iv) organisation of forms of part-time or distance studies oriented towards lifelong learning.
Within this framework, the law on higher education and the National Higher Education Strategy 2008–2013
that were adopted in 2008 guide reforms and strategic orientation of the sector. Work is proceeding with
individual plans of strategic and institutional development of universities for a three-year period, in line with
the Strategy.
Figure 33. Number of students in higher education 2006–2008
100000
90000
80000
70000
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
86178
90202
81102 80696
58916 62289
5761
13918 9506 11827
2006-2007 2007-2008
Total number of enrolled students
Students of public universities
Students in private universities
Full time (public) students
Part time (public) students
Source: MES
The number of students enrolled in higher education in the 2007–2008 academic year was 90,202 against 86,178
students in 2006–2007 (Figure 33). Enrolment in public higher education was lower than in the previous year:
80,696 students versus 81,102. However, enrolment in non-public education institutions grew to 9,506 students
from 5,761 in the previous year. Nevertheless, enrolment in the public education system for full-time studies
rose to 62,289 students versus 58,916 in the previous year. In 2008–2009, the number of students is expected
to reach 115,000.
Enrolment rate in higher education increased due to policies aimed at encouraging enrolment of youths through
consolidating the capacity of universities and introducing new programmes, making courses more attractive
and more responsive to the labour market needs. The increased number of students was associated with an
increased number of professors and integration of research institutes into the universities, thus upgrading
their academic, laboratory and scientific capacity. As regards higher education, the Bologna process began to
be implemented and the study programmes are being reorganised into cycles.
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