The NCTPE is an institution responsible for policy development, accreditation, QA and monitoring of in-service training for teachers and education managers. This two-year programme is the first EU-funded programme in the area of in-service training for teaching staff in Romania and has the following main outputs:

• The implementation of a sustainable Training Needs Analysis (TNA) system in High Schools;
• The development of competency standards for teachers and education management staff;
• Revision of the accreditation procedure for in-service training courses for teachers and education managers;
• Institutional capacity building of staff at the NCTPE’s main office and its 16 regional offices;
• Development of a demand-driven flexible in-service training system;
• Management of a Grant Scheme for in-service training providers (mainly University Institutions) to develop demand-oriented training courses, based on modern training methodologies.

The project has a special emphasis on the quality of education in High Schools in rural areas, often the most forgotten group of schools in support programmes. They play a crucial role in the re-structuring of the local economies in this transition country.

The TNA system will be based on self-assessment of the individual needs of teachers and analysis of the local labour market needs with the help of (1) partnerships between schools and local stakeholders and (2) school networking.

The Grant Scheme will focus on training providers who are mostly University based or related institutions and delivery of training based on the methodology of active learning.

The development of competency standards for teachers and education management staff and the revision of the accreditation procedure for in-service training courses will serve as frameworks for the courses to be developed under the present grant scheme and thereafter will be on par with EU and international standards and procedures.