Alternation in the Reformation of School

2. Alternation in the Reformation of School Alternation is defined by law as “ A way to realise the vocational course planned, carried out and evaluated by the school in cooperation with businesses, with the representative bodies and with the Chambers of Commerce, so as to assure to young people, besides the basic knowledges, the acquisition of expertises spendable in the labour market ”

3. The new basic role given to the Chambers of Commerce by the Reformation of School The article 4of the Law of Reformation of School, n. 53 of 28 March 2003, acknowledges and gives for the first time, in matter of Alternation School - Work, a basic role to the Chambers of Commerce, next to businesses and their representative bodies, as subjects to be involved in planning, carrying out, evaluating the vocational courses, as well as potential subjects of agreements to receive students in vocational training.the Equalization Fund of the System of Chambers. After that, in the month of July 2003 aRegistered Agreement was signed, on a national level, between the Ministry of Education and the Union of Chambers, from which Operational Agreements have been issued in all the Italian Regions (but for Valle d’Aosta) between Regional School Offices, Schools and Chambers of Commerce to experiment Alternation Courses financed together by the Ministry and Commerce.

4. The legislative decree n. 77/2005 The legislative decree of 15 April 2005 defines the general rules concerning Alternation School – Work, as a way to realise the courses of secondary school, both in the system of lycées and in the system of education and vocational courses, for students aged 15 (art. 1)

5. Players and activities of Alternation SCHOOL Organisation and carrying out of training at school Project Filing curricula Insurance policy School Tutor Evaluation and Credits Certificate CCIAA AND REPRESENTATIVE BODIES Searching businesses Gestione data banks Students preparation Teaching workers Services of assistence Support tools BUSINESS Organising and carrying out of training in business Business Tutor Evaluation

6. The experimentation model in Tuscany I year Socialization to work Objectives Acquisition of the keys to read a working context Vocational guidance to the world of labour

7. The experimentation model in Tuscany II year Knowledge of the world of labour Objectives Determination of Transverse abilities Professional abilities Acquisition of Transverse abilities Professional abilities

8. The experimentation model in Tuscany III year Taking part in work Objectives Evaluation and certification of Transverse abilities Professional abilities Acquisition of Transverse abilities Professional abilities

9. Projects of Alternation School - Work: years compared

10. The map of the experimentations of the Chamber network : 2007/2008

11. Distribution of the courses of Alternation by types of school and Chambers Union models years 2005/2006

12. 169 93 82 55 7 Professionale Liceo Tecnico Istituti Istruzione Istituto D’arte Superiore Schools involved in courses of Alternation 2005-2006 by type

13. Points of strength Graduality, flexibility and adaptability of the models and of the courses experimented in function of the several specificities Creation of a network among the subjects in the area Acknowledgement of the role of the Chambers of Commerce as “simplifiers” for Alternation Approach and more mutual knowedge between the world of school and the world of businesses Usefulness and validity of the training courses for workers

14. Points of strength Enrichment of abilities of the students Satisfaction and greater motivation of the students towards the school activities Satisfaction of parents for the enrichment of the teaching offer through the experiences in business Vocational value of the seminars/moduls of “guidance and business culture” for the students (most of all on the first year of Alternation aimed at fifteen year students) Value of the activities in business from the point of view of the school and vocational guidance Realisatrion of experiences concrete in businesses focussed on the actual work needs of the area

15. Criticalities and points of weakness: the experience in schools The experience of training is felt as an opportunity only by some teachers meeting hostility of the remaining teachers There is a cultural resistance of some headmasters in experimenting innovative teaching methods The extra – curricular activities of schools are sometimes so numerous to make “jams” or there are no priorities estabilished Schools complain about little finances for Alternation Difficulties of integration between business abilities and traditional teaching come out Complexity and time consistenza temporale of the planning Little knowledge by teachers of the business world

16. Criticalities and points of weakness from the businesses: the difficulties in finding the businesses Expenses for businesses connected to the organisation costs and to the scarsità lack of resources to dedicate to the teaching activity (major difficulties in areas where is a larger presence of very small businesses, for the difficulty to let a person from the staff to follow the trainee) Difficulty to let labour participate in the teaching activities for preparation and sensitization for business tutor Little motivation and consciousness of the businesses (cultural resistance by some businesses which see the training as a waste of time and resources) Little perception of the importance of preparing a potential worker Perception by the businesses of little usefulness of training for a short period (less than 30 days)

17. The tools of the Chambers of commerce System The portal of guidance www.jobtel.it Analysis of professional and traning needs of businesses System of Information Excelsior Services for Alternation and vocational training www.polaris.unioncamere.it

18. References COAP – Azienda Speciale Camera di commercio di Grosseto Luca Bilotti Tel. 0564 430212 - 25941 Fax 0564 41 66 63 e-mail: bilotti.coap@gr.camcom.it Area Ricerca, Innovazione e Formazione Unioncamere Settore “Sistemi formativi e mercato del lavoro” Stefano Casagrande tel. 064704.291 fax 064704.344 e-mail: stefano.casagrande@unioncamere.it Caterina Pampaloni tel. 064704.388 fax 064704.344 e-mail: c.pampaloni@retecamere.it Thanks for your attention