Fostering Creativity and Employability in Vocational Education
For three years, JDC-Ashalim and the Ministry of Labor have been leading the ‘Creative Education’ reform to provide students in vocational education with creative concepts and skills, develop their abilities to integrate into a changing world, and improve their chances for socio-economic mobility. The reform was developed by the Ministry of Labor, JDC-Ashalim, and JDC-Tevet.
The past year has been and continues to be particularly different and challenging due to the war. During this time, education teams were required to operate during wartime, and we experienced challenges in all possible arenas. Schools in creative education adapted their businesses with the outbreak of war, dedicating them to community assistance and even aiding security forces by partnering in the production of “pergolas” for tanks entering combat in Gaza. Confectionery departments cooked and baked for evacuees, beauty care departments opened services and treatments for evacuees in hotels, and social media departments created websites for evacuees’ businesses.
Recognizing Achievements and Looking to the Future
Last week, with over 200 participants, we held the annual closing ceremony for the program in recognition of the managers and education teams, students, professionals in the vocational education system, and program partners: the Ministry of Labor’s Vocational Training Division, JDC-Tevet, Yad Hanadiv Foundation, Hotam Organization, and Mifras Organization, for their work in this complex year and in general.
28 out of 64 vocational schools are taking part in the change process, and we are looking forward: In the coming year, additional schools are expected to join the reform, and recently, a substantial budget was approved to expand activities in the field of career guidance and employer relations for all vocational schools in Arab society.
