Curriculum, subjects, number of hours
Upper secondary education and VET in VET institution (when pupils gain both a profession and general education), are organised according to plans of general education and VET for the specific school year and curriculum descriptions. In the 2017/2018 school year, the following are used: General Plan of the Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary Education Curriculum for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, Description of Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary Education Curriculum, General Plan of the Vocational Education and Training Curriculum for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, Description of Formal Vocational Education and Training Curriculum and other legal acts. The Minister of Education, Science and Sport approves these legal acts. The VET institution prepares its curriculum according to these documents.
Preparation of VET institution’s curriculum
The VET institution prepares its own curriculum for the implementation of general education and VET in accordance with the above-mentioned legal acts. The school’s curriculum describes the implementation of education contents, provides solutions on how to organise the education process, how to evaluate pupil 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. The VET provider approves the school’s curriculum before the 1st of September of the school year.
Upper secondary education and VET: subjects and number of hours
The duration of a VET programme with the lower secondary education programme is 3 years. The implementation of the lower secondary education programme is coordinated with the implementation of the VET programme.
Numbers of hours allocated to the field or subject during the course or courses according to the general plans approved by the Minister of Education, Science and Sport.
Remarks:
* integrated into the content of another subject.
**For groups that are taught in ethnic minority language.
The minimum number of obligatory lessons per week is 30 (35**) for each pupil.
310 lessons in total per courses I and II are dedicated to meeting a pupil’s educational needs.
220 hours in total per courses I-III are dedicated to non-formal education.
While educating competencies required for the profession, the lifelong learning abilities are also developed. Critical thinking, creativity, initiative, problem solving, decision making and constructive management of emotions are taught with general abilities.
VET institution can include VET subjects (modules) into the list of freely chosen subjects.
Upper secondary education implemented with VET in a VET institution
Numbers of hours allocated to the field or subject during the course or courses according to the general plans approved by the Minister of Education, Science and Sport.
Remarks:
*integrated into the content of another subject. The general programme of ‘Human safety’ is integrated into the content of the VET subject ‘Civil safety’.
**For groups that are taught in ethnic minority language.
***A pupil can choose it as a chosen subject.
VET implemented with upper secondary education in a VET institution
The VET programme can be divided into modules. Depending on whether the vocational education and training programme is split into modules, the VET curriculum is developed accordingly. The modular VET programme is divided into credits. Modular VET programmes can be either 60, 90 or 110 credits.
Numbers of hours allocated to the field or subject during the course or courses according to the general plans approved by the Minister of Education, Science and Sport.
Remarks:
* integrated into the content of another subject or is taught as independent subject or module.
**For groups that are taught in an ethnic minority language.
***A pupil can choose it as a chosen subject.
Applicable to the VET programmes (excluding modular VET programs):
Professional information technologies is a compulsory subject in the VET programme, excluding programmes that are assigned to the field of information and communication technology.
Practical training covers 60-70% of the hours allocated for VET subjects. The practice takes place in the final year. It is implemented in an enterprise, institution, organisation, farm etc. Practice may be continuous or split into separate parts. Before starting the practice, the student must have completed practice-related training programmes and have received a satisfactory assessment of the above-mentioned programmes.
Applicable to the modular VET programmes:
Hours for physical activity regulation are distributed in the last course if the modular programme is 110 or 90 credits.
27 hours are allocated for 1 credit in modular VET programmes. In the case of initial VET, the VET provider must assign 22 hours of each credit to contact work in the class, consultations and assessment of pupil achievements. The remaining 5 hours are dedicated for extra curriculum work. If a student has special educational needs due to intellectual disabilities, all 27 hours are allocated to contact work in the class, consultations and assessment of pupil achievements. In the case of a continuous modular VET programme, at least 17 hours are dedicated to contact work in the class, consultations and assessment of pupil achievements. The remaining 10 hours of one credit are dedicated for extra curriculum work.
After completion of one or several modules and after receiving a satisfactory assessment for these modules, there is usually time for practical training at a work place. It is recommended that this take place in a sectorial practical training centre. During the last module of the modular VET programme, pupils who have satisfactory assessments from all modules are sent to an enterprise, institution, organisation, farm etc. to learn in a real work place.
Teaching methods and materials
The VET institution’s general education teachers and VET teachers have the right to choose the ways and means of organising their teaching activities.
More detailed information about teaching methods and materials used by general education teachers are provided in sub-chapter 6.2.2. ‘Teaching Methods and Materials.
More detailed information about teaching methods and materials used by VET teachers are provided in sub-chapter 6.14.2. ‘Teaching Methods and Materials’.