Vocational education and training is a key factor

Today young people across the world are twice as likely to be unemployed as the rest of the population. This is why the importance of vocational education and training for the qualification of young people is a priority for UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

This theme was the focus of an event organised by the International United Nations Centre for Vocational Training (UNESCO-UNEVOC) based in Bonn. "Vocational education and training is a key factor," said Shyamal Majumdar, head of UNESCO-UNEVOC.

The conference focused on the role of technical and vocational initial and continuing education and training in combating youth unemployment. Support for entrepreneurial competencies was also covered. The meeting was being held to mark the second world day for the acquisition of competencies by young people.

"In many parts of the world, young people regard vocational education and training as only the second best option," said Borhene Chakroun, head of the section for young people, literacy and competency development at UNESCO. All of them are aiming for an academic education. She explained that this was a false conclusion. In those countries in particular with high birth rates, vocational education is important for gaining work. She added that there were some good approaches being taken, for example in Morocco.

"The importance of vocational education and training needs to be much more clearly emphasized at an international level," said David Atchoarena, director of the department for policy measures and systems for lifelong learning at UNESCO. He added that it was important to draw attention to the problems connected with the underemployment and unemployment of young people.

According to information from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 73.4 million young people worldwide (13.1 per cent) were unemployed in 2015 and their number is likely to rise further in most regions by 2017. Young people did in fact only account for one sixth of the global population in 2014, but their share of global unemployment was 36.7 per cent.

In addition to this, 2 out of every 5 young people capable of gainful employment were unemployed or had work but lived in poverty during 2015. UNESCO regards the main reason for this as the imbalance between the qualifications offered by employees in the economy and those demanded by employers.

Around the world, the German system of vocational education and training with a combination of practical company-based learning and theoretical instruction in vocational schools is regarded as unique. However, in other countries initial approaches certainly do exist which are similar.

Peter Thiel, ministerial councillor with responsibility for vocational education and training in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, regards Slovakia and Greece as being well on the way. He explained that a project existed in tourism training, for example, in Greece. He added that, at European Union level, projects were being supported for setting up vocational education and training systems and opportunities for cooperation in other countries.

At the event, UNESCO launched their new vocational education and training strategy for 2016 to 2021. This covers support for youth employment and entrepreneurship, support for gender equality and easing the transition to an environmentally compatible national economy. The UNEVOC network is a global network of organisations operating in the area of vocational education and training and provides a context for the exchange of ideas and views and for mutual support.