Access to WBL in the Republic of North Macedonia

Collaboration of schools and mentors (at the employers’)  plays an important role in the education and training of students. The school should take responsibility over the connection of all partners participating in education – both in the school and in the work process (pupils, parents, employers and trade or commerce chambers).
An open, honest and clear communication between the school, employers and students is required, as well as respecting the characteristics of all partners and in accordance with the existing school and work legislation.

All the schools have an obligation to implement the WBL process, also the students according to the curriculum. As stipulated by  the Law on VET, companies are permitted to conduct practical training if they meet specific requirements with regard to premises, equipment and appropriate staff, and if they have an interest.

The school prepares a list of companies for performing practical training according to occupations.

The criteria for allocating places for practical training are determined by the school itself. Students can submit a request for another company that is not included in the list, but the school’s consent is required.
On the basis of the list of proposals and additional requests from students/parents, the school prepares a schedule for performing practical training in companies, and gives students a certificate for its performance.
Students with a certificate issued by the school report to the company. At the first contact, they are introduced to the general standards and working conditions in the company. Minors, at least once, together with their parents, visit the company in which they will perform practical training.

Contacts during the practice are established between the mentor from the company, the teacher, the parent and the student. These contacts should provide support and assistance to students during the implementation of the practice. This can immediately resolve possible problems that could further arise. For the purpose of more successful maintenance of these contacts, the teachers in charge are obliged to organize at least one meeting with the mentor from the company.

The coordinator in each school/teacher for practical training keeps a list of companies that offer places for practical training. This list should be posted on the bulletin board and on the website of the school. In this way, students can find the addresses and contacts of companies.
The list should be regularly updated and those companies that have not met the expectations of the school and students, should be removed from the list.
Every year the school establishes initial contacts with the companies and determines the number of places for practice that will be available next year. The school addresses the companies with which it has already established contact, but also with those with whom it plans to establish cooperation.
The school/coordinator informs the parents that the current list of companies can be found on the bulletin board or on the school’s website.

The school director together with the associates arranges a meeting with parents, students and teachers for practical training at the school and mentors with the employers, to clarify the objectives of the training, the tasks and the role of the student/student, parents, school and employers.

Training agreements are signed for the training period between the vocational education and training institution, the employer and the student, and for a minor student the agreement is signed by the students’ parent or guardian. The agreement defines the training conditions, the work and the remuneration for the work. Before the practical training starts, the agreement must be signed.

The program of practical training is formed together with the employer. It can be tailored to a particular student according to its characteristics, the year of education and the range of activities as well as the working conditions in the company.

During the practical training in companies, the student is obliged to keep a diary. Upon completion of the practical training, the mentor describes the achievements of the student and signs the diary for practice. Then the diary is placed in the student dossier, i.e. in the student’s portfolio.

After completing the practice, the school sends a gratitude to the company.