There is, in particular, a draft law which provides for employers' participation in forecasting the need for trained personnel and elaborating vocational education standards, as well as their participation in control over the quality of education.
Another draft law provides for changing the procedure for implementing programs of additional vocational training. "As early as 2006, we plan to create a network of non-state institutions of a new type within the sector of additional vocational training," the minister noted.
Yet another draft law provides for making vocational training more accessible for people who served in the army on the contract basis, setting up free preparatory courses for them and increasing their maintenance allowances. In Mr. Fursenko's words, this program is also to be launched in 2006.
The package of documents also includes a draft law which provides for expanding the number of organizations entitled to engage in research and educational activities. According to this draft law, already in 2005 artificial barriers barring research organizations from educational activities and vice versa should be removed.
"We hope all these draft laws will be submitted to the State Duma [parliament's lower chamber] and adopted at its spring session," Mr. Fursenko said in conclusion.
