Cooks and electricians in high demand: Schools in North Mitrovica train students for shortage occupations

The Office for Dual Education has published the list of shortage occupations for the upcoming school year, which includes electricians, cooks, retail salespersons, and auto electricians, among others. Students can receive training for these occupations at two secondary schools in North Mitrovica: the School of Economics and Commerce and the Technical School.

The principal of the School of Economics and Commerce, Goran Janicijevic, told Kosovo Online that two three-year vocational programs, cook and retail salesperson, were offered again this year, and both attracted strong interest.

"Interest is good. Just like last year, all 10 places in the retail salesperson program have been filled, while eight students enrolled in the cook program in the first enrollment round. The programs are already full. We have excellent working conditions, especially for the cook program. Students have their own professional kitchen and complete regular practical training in restaurants in Mitrovica, as well as at the Student Dormitory, the Medical School Dormitory, and a kindergarten. We have distributed only a few students to each location so they can receive quality practical training and acquire the necessary skills," Janicijevic said.

At the School of Economics and Commerce, students show greater interest in vocational trades than in four-year programs. Janicijevic explained that the main reason is the earning potential.

"It seems to me that parents influence and determine their children's career paths. The cook program is attractive because it is in demand, as is retail sales, and both are well-paid professions with good employment prospects. That is why young people choose them. I think the cook program is especially attractive because it offers many opportunities for students to learn practical skills that will benefit them in the future, since it is a well-paid trade," the principal explained.

Students at the "Mihailo Petrovic Alas" Technical School can also acquire the skills needed for occupations on the shortage list. These include construction technician, electrician, plumbing, heating and air conditioning installer, and motor vehicle mechanic.

The school's principal, Sasa Markovic, says that interest among eighth-grade graduates in three-year vocational programs has declined in recent years, primarily because there are no factories in the area where they could find employment after graduation.

"The Technical School has always offered vocational trades. In the field of mechanical engineering and metalworking, we have the motor vehicle mechanic and plumbing, heating and air conditioning installer programs. Each program has 10 places, and we usually enroll seven or eight students. There used to be full enrollment, but in recent years interest has declined somewhat. In the field of electrical engineering, we offer the thermal and refrigeration systems technician and telecommunications network installer programs, each with 10 places as well. We hope enrollment will be better this year," Markovic said.

He added that students graduate from the school with practical skills and a profession in hand, but they still tend to opt for four-year programs.

"Before the war, we used to have 20 students per class. As you know, because of the war and the situation afterward, factories, especially Trepca, are no longer operating, so interest has declined because young people cannot find jobs. All the programs are good, but I would single out the thermal and refrigeration systems technician program," Markovic explained.

Dejan Aleksic, a vocational teacher in electrical engineering, explained that in addition to the four-year renewable energy electrical technician program, the school also offers two three-year vocational programs - thermal and refrigeration systems technician and telecommunications network installer. All three are on the list of shortage occupations.

"Our working conditions are excellent because we have very well-equipped classrooms and highly qualified staff trained to teach these programs. Recently, we opened a new laboratory with top-quality facilities. I believe that no school in Kosovo and Metohija has technical facilities like ours," Aleksic said.

According to him, students lack opportunities for practical field training, but the school tries to compensate through hands-on instruction in its workshops.

"In the past, when construction projects were still taking place in Mitrovica, we took students to work on electrical installations in those buildings, which was excellent practical experience. We also visited the Gazivode hydropower plant, the Valac substation, and Elektrosever. We observed remote-control systems, SCADA systems, and other technologies. Such visits are now less frequent because of the overall situation, but we strive to provide as much practical training as possible within the school. The results of that training are evident at national competitions, where we have achieved outstanding success. Some of our students have even become Serbian national champions in certain vocational disciplines, specifically in the practical part of the competition," Aleksic said.

He added that these trades offer young people excellent employment opportunities while also allowing them to continue their education.

"With these skills, you have a source of income in your hands because skilled trades are currently the most sought-after professions in Serbia. We have plenty of IT professionals and experts in other fields, but there are far fewer skilled tradespeople. I am convinced that graduates of vocational programs can easily find employment and secure a stable source of income," Aleksic said.

Teacher Aleksa Vulovic works with students in the field of mechanical engineering and metalworking, which includes two vocational programs: motor vehicle mechanic and plumbing, heating and air conditioning installer.

"Students are trained in vehicle diagnostics, engine repair, vehicle servicing, and the complete maintenance of motor vehicles. They find employment very quickly after graduation because these occupations are in high demand on the labor market," he explained.

As he noted, these programs attract more boys than girls because the work is physically demanding.

"Upon graduation, students receive a Category B driver's license free of charge, which is another reason why many young people choose to enroll in this program," Vulovic added.