Professional conversion programs for teachers, within universities

Accredited higher education institutions may organize professional conversion programs for teachers in pre-university education based only on accredited bachelor's degree programs, states a project put out for public consultation by the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry has put into debate a project regarding the methodological norms for organizing and operating professional conversion programs for teachers in pre-university education. Postgraduate professional conversion programs are adult professional training programs that are addressed to teachers in pre-university education with a completion/license in education, full or substitute, graduates with a bachelor's degree or equivalent, who wish to acquire a new specialization. According to the draft: "Professional conversion programs can be organized only in the languages and forms of education in which the undergraduate university study programs on which they are based are taught. Professional conversion programs for the specialization "Technological Education" can be organized by higher education institutions that have accredited undergraduate university study programs in the fundamental field "Engineering Sciences"". According to the normative act, professional conversion programs are completed with a graduation exam that is taken only at the higher education institution that provided the education. Graduates of the professional conversion program, who have passed the graduation exam, are issued, by the organizing higher education institution, a professional conversion diploma, accompanied by a diploma supplement. "The professional conversion diploma grants the holder the right to occupy teaching positions/departments in pre-university education in accordance with the new specialization. Teachers who complete professional conversion/reconversion programs, after completing the first cycle of undergraduate studies with a diploma, can only be employed in pre-school, preschool, primary, secondary, vocational education or in practical training departments, as the case may be," the project also stipulates.

At the same time, teachers who complete professional conversion programs, after completing the first cycle of undergraduate studies with a diploma or the second cycle of master's studies, graduated in the field of the undergraduate degree (first cycle), can be employed at any level of pre-university education, including children's palaces/clubs and school sports clubs.