In 2020 and - as a result of the COVID pandemic - even in 2021, many adult education providers have advertised their training courses for opening and managing restaurants, pastry shops, buffets, etc. as the last opportunity to obtain such a qualification in up to 8 months.
The post-OKJ world stretches the time to qualification too far. Up to 3 plus 2 years of schooling, a master's degree and 5 years of practical training. In addition, vocational schools will not be able to cope with the influx of people wanting to learn, as adult education providers will no longer be able to offer the same vocational training courses as before. And what has become of this gloomy prediction? We're launching a series of articles to find out, interviewing representatives from the hospitality industry, vocational schools and policy-makers.
The end of the OKJ world and beyond
At the end of this year, the OKJ vocational training system in our country will end. This means that this is the last date when you can still obtain a certificate in this training system. But it is not simply a question of the vocational training system, but also of a reorganisation of the state-recognised professions and training. From 2021, students and adults wishing to change their profession will be able to choose from only 174 basic professions that are recognised by the state and can only be learned in the school system (full-time or evening classes in vocational schools).
But it is not just many vocational courses that have ceased or merged. Adult education companies, institutions and businesses, which have proliferated over the past decade, can now only offer training in part-skills (e.g. pastry chef, assistant chef). They will not be able to issue certificates of professional qualifications recognised by the state, only certificates. Vocational certificates are awarded to students after successful examinations at vocational schools or accredited centres.
Vocational schools under restructuring
The new vocational training system also meant that vocational schools had to be integrated into sectoral training centres last autumn. In the hospitality sector, this process and its speed was viewed with some scepticism by the profession.
A professional perspective
László Kovács President of the Hungarian Hospitality Industry Association the fact is that the OKJ system was not ideal. Students were not coming out of vocational training with the right knowledge, but the new system was not shaped by practical experience and the views of the profession. Most of all, it was created by people sitting at desks and not by people with practical experience.
„In line with the legislation, sectoral training centres were set up in September last year, bringing together several hospitality schools into a single centre. But this process and the new training system were not preceded by a pilot project or consultation of the industry. This has created uncertainty. The process was also too fast. The creation of sectoral training centres would have been better timed for 2022. In addition, there is a problem, for example in Budapest and its surroundings, that schools for hospitality training have been located in two large centres, which are now in competition with each other. But there is a great need for cooperation at a time when the COVID epidemic has left the profession in a state of haemorrhage.”
Let's continue!#
