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MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ORGANIZATION FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (O.E.E.K.) by STELIOS K. KRASSAS

The Organisation for Vocational Education and Training (O.E.E.K.) that was established within the framework of the National Vocational Education and Training System, has administrative and economic independence; it is supervised by the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs, and aims at:

• Implementing the targets of the National Vocational Education and Training System.
• Establishing and operating the Public Vocational Training Institutes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs.
• Supervising and controlling Private Vocational Training Institutes.
• Forming a regulative framework for the operation of Vocational Training Institutes, other public agencies, regarding training matters.

Vocational Training Institutes (I.E.K.)

The Vocational Training Institutes, both Public and Private, are administered or supervised by the Organisation for Vocational Education and Training. They aim at offering all types of vocational training, initial or supplementary thus providing trainees with the corresponding qualifications which will make their professional integration in society smoother, ensuring their adaptation to the changing needs of the production process. Vocational Training Institutes offer scientific, technical, vocational and practical knowledge and provide trainees with the potential to develop the corresponding skills and competencies necessary for a successful professional career.

Training in Public Vocational Training Institutes which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs, takes place at the Institutes premises (e.g. school units or rented buildings which meet infrastructure prerequisites) as well as in enterprises, industries or elsewhere. Vocational Training Institutes accept higher and lower secondary school graduates. Training lasts up to four semesters for Eniaia Lykeia graduates and 2 semesters for lower secondary (Gymnasia) education graduates.

Each vocational training year consists of two integral training semesters (autumn and spring), every semester includes fourteen complete weeks of training. Autumn semester commences in October and ends in February, while spring semester starts in February and ends in June. Training in public Vocational Training Institutes, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs, takes place mainly in the afternoon.

Trainees attend theoretical, laboratory, and combined subjects that are compulsory. Throughout the training process, trainees are assessed both through progress tests during the semester and also with final examinations which take place at the end of the semester.

Upon successful completion of the training in Public and Private Vocational Training Institutes, trainees are granted with a Vocational Training Certificate. This Certificate entitles them to sit for the vocational training qualification exams in order to obtain the Vocational Training Diploma, a post-secondary Vocational Training level qualification.

Annually about 35,000 trainees attend Public Vocational Training Institutes and 20,000 trainees attend Private Vocational Training Institutes. Since the outset of their operation, a total of about 50,000 trainees have graduated from Public Vocational Training Institutes. One thousand one hundred teachers of primary and secondary education have been temporarily appointed to cover the administrative needs of 125 Public Vocational Training Institutes, which are currently operating.

Trainers of Vocational Training Institutes come from the labour market, as well as higher and secondary education. The number of Public Vocational Training Institutes trainers amounts to 9,500. A trainers training programme is running for Public Vocational Training Institute trainers within the 2nd Community Support Framework.

Vocational Training Institutes aim at providing a high level of qualifications, so as to facilitate the absorption of trainees in the labour market. Thus it becomes mandatory to find and employ the most competent trainers who are able to provide a high quality of training. On these grounds the Organisation for Vocational Education and Training aims at establishing a National Register of Trainers and Examiners of Vocational Education and Training to work as a "data base", which will include certified trainers and examiners for each study field, speciality and geographical region.

The Organisation for Vocational Education and Training lays special emphasis on curriculum development (specialities), which meet local labour market needs. So far, the curricula that have been approved by the Organisation for Vocational Education and Training and are offered by Public and Private Vocational Training Institutes throughout Greece are 140.The Organisation's Internet address is: http://www.oeek.gr.