It is proposed to amend the Regulations on the Procedure for Reimbursement of the Expenses of Enterprises in the Field of Dual Education, which will create mechanisms that will enhance the ability of companies to utilize compensation.
The amendments, drafted by the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization together with the Ministry of Education and Research, provide for the abandonment of certain restrictions for receiving compensations and give enterprises more room for maneuver when determining the costs of dual training, the arguments to the draft said.
Why the money is not utilized
Today, the distribution of funds is carried out by the Organization for Enterprise Development (ODA) in the amount of 50% of the expenses to be compensated. Last year, 15 million lei was allocated for them from the state budget.
The compensations cover the expenses of the enterprise for the training of the master who works with students. It also covers the monthly remuneration in the amount of the national minimum wage paid to the trainees by the employer.
These are the two most costly items for the enterprises where the students of the vocational education system do their internships.
However, the money provided by the state for compensation is not fully utilized. In 2025, out of 15 million lei approved in the law on state budget, about 11.74 million lei were compensated for 80 economic entities.
The reason is that not all companies can document the relevant enterprise expenses, provide students with everything they need, including infrastructure and premises, as well as the services of a master who would have the appropriate qualifications.
In addition, not all paid students a stipend equal to the minimum wage. At the same time, a company that is involved in the system must obtain a certificate that it provides the necessary minimum for the trainees.
What amendments are proposed
Therefore, an amendment is being made to the regulations, according to which companies participating in dual education will be able to receive compensation, even if they have arrears of payments to the state budget.
The draft also stipulates that the Business Development Organization will be able to specify administrative costs related to the management of the compensation mechanism. However, these adjustments may not exceed 3% of the budget approved for this purpose.
According to the data presented in the draft, in the 2025-2026 school year, about 3,300 students are being trained under the dual system in 45 vocational education institutions in partnership with about 230 economic entities.
