Vocational schools in the Vitebsk region have purchased equipment worth more than Br7 billion over five years.

October 25, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Over Br7 billion has been allocated to strengthen the material and technical base of vocational education institutions in the Vitebsk region over the past five years, the education department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. As part of the implementation of the State Program for the Development of Vocational Education for 2006-2010, vocational schools and colleges acquired almost 300 units of technological equipment, agricultural machinery, and farm equipment, as well as 19 computer classes. Br6 billion of budget funds, Br1 billion of extra-budgetary funds earned by the educational institutions themselves, and over Br200 million from sponsoring enterprises were spent for these purposes. As noted by the department, strengthening the material and technical base allows for improving the quality of training for young workers and enables educational institutions to more actively develop their production activities. Annual income from such activities amounts to about Br10 billion. In the Vitebsk region, 31 vocational education institutions train workers in more than 60 educational specialties and over 150 professions. Annually, depending on market needs, training is opened for 10-15 new professions. The region has 6 vocational colleges, 22 vocational lyceums, and 3 vocational schools. This year, over 4,000 graduates from basic and secondary general education schools were admitted for training. -0-