Curriculum, subjects, number of hours

The organisation of VET is based on the General Plan of the Vocational Education and Training Curriculum for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 School Years, the Description of Formal Vocational Education and Training Curriculum, and other legal acts.

Preparation of VET institution’s curriculum

When planning the implementation of a VET programme or module, the VET school or other VET provider adjusts it to the needs of the labour market and pupils. VET providers can independently modify up to 15 per cent of the content of a programme to take account of market needs and providing they do not change the scope of the general VET programme. The mandatory modules of a VET programme cannot be changed.

The VET institution prepares its own curriculum. The school’s curriculum describes the implementation of education contents, provides solutions on how to organise the education process – in the form of school or apprenticeship, how to assess pupils’ achievements, how to organise practice etc. It is recommended that a working group composed of representatives of the school’s community be formed to prepare the school’s curriculum.

A VET programme or module can be implemented over a shorter or longer period of time than is foreseen in the legal act. In that case possibilities and learning and working load are taken into account.

The VET provider approves the school’s curriculum before the 1^st September of the school year.

Initial VET is intended for individuals aged 14 or over seeking to acquire their first qualification. 

One credit equals 27 academic hours which are allocated as follows: contact work, tutorials and assessment of the student’s learning outcomes – 22 academic hours, and self-study not supervised by the teacher – 5 academic hours.

The number of hours for the implementation of the initial VET curricula:

Notes:

* If the number of hours indicated in the table does not coincide with the number of hours indicated in the EU or other international or national legal acts governing the implementation of the VET curricula or modules, the latter number shall prevail;

** Additional hours to the hours allocated to the VET curriculum.

Continuing vocational training (CVT) is intended to improve the person's existing qualifications or to acquire another qualification, and can be both formal and non-formal. Formal CVT curricula are designed for individuals with a wide range of educational backgrounds. Learners may be required to have practical experience or to meet the minimum qualifications.

One credit equals 27 academic hours which are allocated as follows: contact work, tutorials and assessment of the student’s learning outcomes – 18 academic hours, and self-study not supervised by the teacher – 9 academic hours

The number of hours for the implementation of the CVT curricula:

Notes:

* Integrated in the modules for the acquisition of qualification competences; 

** If the number of hours indicated in the table does not coincide with the number of hours indicated in the EU or other international or national legal acts governing the implementation of the VET curricula or modules, the latter number shall prevail.

Teaching methods and materials

In pursuing general education goals, every teacher is free to select the educational methods he/she deems adequate, to combine several of them and create his/her individual style of instruction. Specific education methods should reflect the actual situation: the needs and abilities of pupils, skills and faculties of each individual teacher as well as the changing socio-cultural context. The teacher has a right to propose his/her individual programmes and choose various ways and forms of pedagogical activities.

VET school teachers are free to choose the ways and means of organising their teaching activities and select any of the accredited curricula and textbooks.