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EDUCATION REFORM PROGRAM - STRATEGY FOR 2002
Context
In
October 1999, OSIM started work on the reform of educational system.
Preliminary arrangements with the Ministry of Education and Science showed
that there was an awareness of the need for a radical reform of the
educational system, as well as of their willingness and openness for
co-operation. The strategic goal of this program is to set up a model of
educational system that would be of better quality, as well as more
flexible, efficient, and rational, from the financial point of view. In
spite of the fact that we have had outstanding co-operation with the
Ministry of Education and Science so far, the prevailing impression is
that the education reform is not yet posed as the government priority and
that the process management has not yet ascended to a higher organization
level. This is even more so for the fact that the current political
situation (the forthcoming election and the referendum on the state and
legal position of Montenegro) and political issues generally still have a
priority over the dynamics of the reform process. The only pressure
mechanism, in terms of still making a certain progress, remains the Open
Society Institute. In
the second half of 2000, the process went two stagnation periods,
considerably affecting the extent to which the Institute funds were used
and causing the delay in the realization of fundamental goals of the
process. By the end of the last year, there still was a positive and
sudden turn in the project realization and the necessary incentive with
the result that major activities on the Book for Changes were finalized in
the first half of 2001. In
late 2000, the National Education Council was founded and commissions for
individual education levels (pre-school, primary, secondary, high school
vocational education and education of adults) appointed. The work on the
Book for Changes has also been finalized to result in its publication
these days and the impetus for a public debate to be held on the solutions
contained in it. In the second half of 2001, it is expected that the final
strategy of the reform process, the so called Book of Changes, will be
adopted. 2000/2001 1.
Capacity building, reform management and strategic planning Over
the past period, due to a considerable technical and financial support of
the Open Society Institute and assistance of Slovenian experts, the
Ministry conducted majority of activities with regard to the drafting of
the reform strategy. The Book for Changes, as a result of the work so far
of the reform team (entirely financed by OSIM) shall soon be subjected to
a public debate and result in the adoption of the final education strategy
in late 2001. This shall be a significant step forward toward the
beginning of the process operational stage comprising the drafting of the
new legislative framework in education; review of curricula and syllabi;
publication of textbooks, and, generally
speaking, the implementation of the strategy. 2.
Awareness raising on the need for changes in the education system An
important prerequisite to an effective education reform is the public
consensus on the need to change education system and ensure broad public
participation in the process. So far, OSIM has made possible a study
tour for representatives of selected Montenegrin editorial boards to
Scotland and provided an additional
financial support to individual editorial boards with the purpose of
their coverage of the reform process events in their preliminary stages.
Journalists often participated in seminars OSIM organized and reported on
the activities of key participants in the process so far. This kind of
support resulted in an outstanding interest of the media in the process
thus creating, in the opinion of OSIM, conditions for a successful
follow-up to the main part of the public debate on the Book for Changes
and broader participation of beneficiaries of the coming changes in the
Book for Changes evaluation process. A special coordinating group is being
organized, composed of
representatives of OSIM, the British Council, UNICEF, and the Ministry of
Education and Science, which will deal with modalities of donor
participation in the realization of this important task. 3.
Training of teaching staff There
have been no significant transformations in the training of teaching staff
since the time of socialist self-government. As such, training poses as
one of the major shortcomings of the education system. There is no
professional development system for either the teaching staff or school
management teams members. Experts in the sphere of pedagogy have been
given no opportunity in Montenegro so far to learn of the new trends in
spheres of their professional interest . Generally speaking, what they
miss is information and skills in the implementation of new methods and
approaches. Over
the past year, OSIM has been involved more with issues concerning the
general reform concept, rather than project details, which is expected to
become necessary in the coming process stages. At the beginning of 2001,
following the recommendation of the Ministry of Education and Science,
beside its work on the seminar
dealing with the issues of initial training and professional development
of teachers, OSIM also supported the project
of professional development of French teachers. Since the British
Council is already involved through the realization of the
"Reconstruction " program in the professional development of
primary school teachers, OSIM plans until the end of 2001 to carry
out training programs for directors of primary schools and pre-school
centers in Montenegro in co-operation with the British Council. 4.
Syllabus and Curriculum In
late 2000, the Ministry of Education and Science started activities on
syllabi and curricula review for individual school subjects. So far, this
review process has been finished for history (the foundation of four
committees has been supported by the Open Society Institute) and the
conditions created for the foundation of committees for similar reviews
for other subjects now that the Book for Changes has been completed.
During 2001, majority of these activities, directly supported by OSIM, is
expected to end. 5.
Textbooks and Additional Teaching Material In
accordance with the activities the Ministry has undertaken to review
syllabi and curricula, considerable funding is also needed for the writing
and publication of textbooks for some school subjects. During 2000, the
syllabus and curriculum for history have been revised and the textbook for
the same subject is being prepared. The publication of textbooks for other
subjects also requires additional funding provision. 6.
Quality insurance Education
quality insurance implies appropriate education programs, teachers'
professional and vocational qualifications, achieved results of students
and teachers; material and technical facilities of educational
institutions, etc. [1]
At the same time, this implies the definition of the new role of the
Ministry of Education and Science, inspectorates, counselors and teaching
staff within the existing / revised procedure of quality base study. The
British Council has already given its contribution in this sphere with
regard to the base study of quality at the level of primary school. Within
the context of the overall system, this issue will be treated as the
principle inherent in the reforms of all education levels. Although the
plan for 2001 included study tours of the Ministry representatives to
selected destinations, the British Council has overtaken this obligation
precisely in the reform aspect dealing with quality insurance. 2002 Following
our activities and experience so far, we shall continue our engagement in
the following spheres: 1.
Capacity building and further management of the reform process Capacity
building of the reform team will continue to be the priority of the
Institute. The Ministry of Education and Science will still need the
expert assistance in the reform management. Further provision
of consulting services to
Montenegro could become part of a wider arrangement for South-East Europe.
With that regard, as early as in 2001, consulting services will be made
accessible through the Open Society Education Programs - South-East
Europe, with its seat in Ljubljana. In 2002, consulting arrangements could
move from strategic planning and reform management issues to other
segments of the reform process. Therefore, OSIM would focus its activities
in 2002 on the following:
2.
Improvement of syllabi and curricula OSIM
will offer direct financial support to the committees working on the
syllabi and curricula review for some subjects (for reasons of limited
human resources that could possibly be used for this purpose, people who
will be engaged on this must be provided additional compensation for this
kind of activity); Organization
of seminars for working groups dealing with the improvement of syllabi and
curricula. 3.
Textbooks The
publication of textbooks for some school subjects is planned for 2002.
This is the activity that the Ministry cannot afford to fund itself, and
the one other donors are not interested in. OSIM plans to contribute in
this segment of reform, with the possibility of entering into a
partnership with some of the donors, if there is interest and
understanding on their part. 4.
Training of teaching staff Simultaneously
with other reform activities, special attention must also be devoted to
the activities aimed at the initial education and professional development
of teaching staff. Pre-service university education shall be focused on
capacity building of young teaching staff (that is mainly dealt with
by HESP). Also planned is in-service training of teachers in the
implementation of new teaching methodologies, as well as the
implementation of new values in education. In this reform sector, we
expect considerable co-operation with the British Council and UNICEF. 5.
Drafting and potential implementation of laws in the sphere of education During
2001, the foundation of working groups is planned for the drafting of
legislation for respective education levels. It is expected, however, that
the laws shall not be passed until the end of 2001 due to current
political situation (the election and the referendum on the state and
legal position). The legislative activities shall therefore be central in
the activities planned for 2002. 6.
Public awareness raising campaign OSIM
intends to continue its activities the purpose of which is to raise media
interest in education reform process as well as to encourage broader
public participation in education reform and win the support of the public
for the reform process. Bearing
in mind that the public debate on the Book for Changes has already
started, we intend to support the proactive role of journalists in their
organizing public debates, round tables, contact programs, and all forms
of investigative journalism that would deal with this particular issue.
OSIM plans to try to partially realize this segment of its activities
through the regional Media Program. Budget
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