OECD experts presented a report on the formation of the National Skills Strategy of Kazakhstan
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter – MLSPP) together with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (hereinafter – OECD) held a final public event, during which the OECD report was presented, prepared as part of the “Formation of an effective National Skills Strategy of Kazakhstan” project (hereinafter referred to as the Project). The event was attended by Akmadi Sarbasov, the First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan , representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “Center for the Development of Human Resources” JSC, “Atameken»NPP , Departments for the coordination of employment and social programs, universities, etc.
The OECD was represented at the event by Mark Pearson, Deputy Director of the Directorate for Employment, Labor and Social Affairs, Heads of the Skills Center El-Iza Mohamedou and Andrew Bell, political analysts Stefano Piano, Miso Lee and Sam Thomas, Senior Management and Lifelong Learning Officer, European Foundation José Manuel Galvin Arribas education.
The implementation of the Project took place from May 2019 to May 2021. For its implementation, four priority areas were selected: – promoting broad participation in adult education in all forms, with particular attention to more vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities and the elderly; – improving the efficiency of the use of skills in the labor market of vulnerable groups of the population, such as youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities and women; – strengthening of systems for professional development, training and collection of information on the labor market; – Strengthening the skills management system. “To implement the Project, 3 OECD missions were carried out. In the first, a skills strategy workshop was held, and the proposed priority areas of the Project were discussed and approved. In the second mission, a diagnostic workshop was held to discuss the key priorities for skills policy. The third OECD mission, due to the epidemiological situation, was carried out in the format of video conferencing.A workshop on best practices was held, draft recommendations developed for Kazakhstan were considered and key aspects of implementation were identified, ”said Akmadi Sarbasov.
During the presentation, the Kazakh side discussed with representatives of the OECD the key aspects of the final report on the Project and recommendations for strengthening and developing the Kazakhstani skills system by promoting wider participation in adult education, improving the level of vocational training of vulnerable groups of the population in the labor market, strengthening vocational training and education systems in the labor market, strengthening the skills management system.Some of the recommendations are planned to be implemented within the framework of the Enbek National Project for the Development of Productive Employment and Mass Entrepreneurship (hereinafter referred to as the National Project).
“The National Project provides for new instruments that contribute to the development of the labor market infrastructure – the creation of digital employment centers for the population, a“ single window ”for obtaining support measures for the development of entrepreneurship, the development of online services, the development of labor resources skills, the creation of an effective model of labor intermediation,” noted Akmadi Sarbasov.
It is also recommended that the OECD strengthen its cooperation with private employment agencies for employment and non-governmental organizations to increase the number of vacancies and promote job search services. According to this recommendation, the MLSPP will consider amending the Rules for organizing and financing outsourcing of services in the field of employment to improve the quality of services provided by private employment agencies.
“The analysis carried out by the OECD is very relevant also because we are currently working to improve the national qualifications system. Thus, our foreign colleagues recommended creating a technical body to coordinate the development of the National Qualifications System, as well as introducing a reliable certification system. Taking into account the recommendations of the OECD, we began to develop a draft law “On professional qualifications”, which will systematize all elements of the National Qualifications System, as well as various ways to regulate access to employment in various activities through the recognition of qualifications. In addition, the document will approve the certification procedure as one of the ways to recognize qualifications, ”added the first vice minister.
Akmadi Sarbasov also noted that the recommendations received will serve as an impetus for the implementation of OECD best practices in the areas of strengthening and developing the skills system, forecasting and training system of labor resources, as well as the labor market as a whole.