An international seminar with the title “Reform of the education system - the prerequisite of better jobs and the protection of workers' rights” was held from September 28th to 30th 2017 in Zagreb, Croatia. Seminar was organized by HKD Napredak (Hrvatsko kulturno društvo Napredak), with the support of EZA and of the European Union. The seminar was attended by representatives of workers’ organisations from 12 different countries including the host country.
At the beginning of the seminar on behalf of the host, Msgr. prof. Franjo Topić welcomed all present, and briefly introduced them to the activities and results of Napredak through their rich history. He emphasized the importance of the education of young people whom Napredak recognized in his foundation in 1902, and it granted scholarships for students, some of them reached great achievements in scientific, cultural and social life, thus changing the qualitative position of the whole society. He concluded that without good education there is no progress in the life of an individual, and therefore no quality state.
The seminar was divided into several thematic units:
- Is the education system in correlation with the trends and needs of the labour market?
- Influence of demography on the education system and the labour market - example of Croatia.
- Quality of education - one of the preconditions for developing a social dialogue.
- Is the education system in South East Europe a good foundation for better jobs and the protection of workers' rights?
- How to overcome the gap between the education system and the real needs of the market?
- Influence of workers' and trade union organizations on the quality of the education system.
- Informal youth education - impact on the labour market.
- Impact of education system on the position of young people in the labour market.
Antonio Inchingoli, Secretary-General of the MCL Italy, pointed out a good long-term cooperation with Napredak, and that selecting Napredak for a host of seminars to discuss the role of youth education was by no means incidental. He noted that MCL is working with Napredak to promote dialogue, and for this purpose Napredak and MCL together has built a center of dialogue in Sarajevo to promote tolerance in society.
Piergiorgio Sciacqua, Co-President of EZA talked about the problems of young people in employment, difficulties in education and schooling of children, the obsolescence of educational methods and the problems that embrace the migration of the population from less developed areas, especially from countries in Africa and Asia.
Representatives of state and city institutions were also present, so in the name of the Mayor of Zagreb, Helena Beus, adviser at the City Office for Education and Culture, who welcomed the seminar as well as the importance for the application of new ideas in the formation of the educational system. State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Pension System of the Republic of Croatia Katarina Ivanković Knežević emphasized the importance of youth education as well as lifelong education for rapid technological changes that require new knowledge and skills to keep workers in the production system.
Through the presentation of the participants and the discussion, there were similar common problems that could be divided into two groups:
- Problems encountered by countries where young people are leaving (South and South-Eastern Europe)
- Problems of migrant countries (countries of Central and Western Europe)
The problems occurring in all the transition countries are similar:
- Outdated education systems,
- Obsolete and poor teaching materials,
- Poor selection of teaching staff due to low income in education,
- Non-motivation of young people for further education,
- The departure of high quality staff to Western European countries caused by low incomes,
- Insecurity and high unemployment,
- Difficulties in changing consciousness from work to work,
- Continuous decline in birth rates.
The problems facing Western and Central European countries are:
- Lack of workforce due to low birth rate,
- Non-motivation of young people for further education and training in several professions,
- Problems with migrants due to the lack of knowledge of the language and the low educational level (the problem is mainly related to migrants from Asia and Africa)
- Poor integration of immigrants into the wider social community of the country they come from.
On the issue of low birth rate it can be said to be one of the biggest problems of Europe in general and which causes aging of the nation, stated prof. Dr. Stjepan Šterc from Zagreb University. In his presentation on the demographic problem in Croatia, and in the European Union, he presented a series of data illustrating a black vision of the Croatian and European future. He sees the problem most in politicians who, through their role in creating the prerequisites for making a national development strategy for society, demography and employment, are used only as personal promotion in pre-election activities, and after the election everything is back in a steady colonial subordinate to personal goals.
Krešimir Sever, president of the Independent Croatian Trade Unions, in his presentation highlighted the problem of globalization, which is negatively reflected through the breakup of the family as the fundamental foundation of a society's development. Only countries like Ireland and Finland who have recognized the importance of education and that education is not a cost but an investment in the future, have achieved rapid economic growth, increased living standards, increased employment, and therefore stopped emigration of young people and made them return to their home countries. Such models could also be applied in the countries of the region in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, which according to the number of inhabitants correspond to the mentioned slopes. Mr Jozef Mozolewski's, President of the Independent trade union Solidarność from Poland, has shown interesting ways of returning and recruiting Polish immigrants to the United Kingdom and the United States. One of the interesting and good examples of how to educate young people for professional occupations and keep them in their country was presented by lecturer Boris Marđonović, executive director of Chamber of Skilled Crafts and Entrepreneurship of Montenegro. In his examination through Model 100, he showed how to educate young people for vocational skills at the highest level and with their acquired knowledge to enable them to work and develop entrepreneurship.
Representatives of trade unions from Slovenia and Austria spoke about other positive experiences in education by encouraging children with language deficits and counselling for children when enrolling for the occupations they would best master.
Solving youth problems, their education and employment is possible through a better dialogue between the trade unions - employers - educational institutions.
CONCLUSIONS
From the held presentations and discussions on a better position for young people, it is necessary to:
- Change urgently the education system and curricular
- Avoid creating irrational occupations unnecessary on the market
- Set up national strategies for the development of society
- Coordinate better trade unions, employers and educational institutions
- Return to the family as the basic value of society development
- Establish a more honest relationship between politicians and real problems
- Promote continuous education and training throughout life
- Investment more in new technologies
- Go back to the internship system
- Develop a dual education system (economy and school / faculty)