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PROGRAM ACTIVITIES |
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ACTIVITIES IN 2008: |
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February | March | may | JUNE | julY | SEPTEMBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER |
1. Presentation of Findings and Recommendations of "Evaluation of Teaching Civil Education in Elementary and General-Program Secondary Schools"
(in-house project) 1,019.67 EUR
Experts Johana Crighton and Tomislav Reškovac completed the Evaluation of teaching civil education in elementary schools and general-program secondary schools. Mr. Reskovac presented the findings and recommendations to the professional and general public at the "Slobodan Skerovic" General-Program Secondary School on 12 December, 2008.
The project covers the expenses related to Mr. Reskovac’s visit and engagement.
The findings should provide the basis for defining guidelines for permanent upgrading of the course quality and the overall functioning of schools.
2. Winter Multimedia Workshop/Mobile Reporters, Becej, 9 – 15 December 2008
(in-house project) 3,128.00 EUR
Media Education Centar, Belgrade organized this international multimedia workshop in Becej, 10-14 December 2008, titled "What democracy means to me". Participants were high-school and university students and teachers working on media literacy and media education. They prepared short films, cartoons and TV, radio and Internet reports.
The project covers participation, travel and accommodation costs for eight participants from Montenegro:groups of three high-school students from Budva and Kotor attending the elective course on Media Literacy and their two teachers.
3. Meeting within the Regional Project "Advancing Inclusion and Quality of Education in SEE"
(NGO Forum MNE) 986.30 EUR
OSI Education Support Program is running the regional project "Advancing Inclusion and Quality of Education in SEE" in eight countries of the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania and Serbia). The project examines the extent to which parent involvement in the functioning of schools impacts the quality of education and fosters cooperation.
Proposals for action research aimed to improve parent involvement were presented at the meeting of country representatives held in Bucharest, 9-10 December 2008.
The project covers travel, accommodation and additional unforeseen expenses for Dijana Uljarevic (Forum MNE).
1. Distribution of Handbook on Sexual and Reproductive Health (and its Translation to Albanian)
(NGO Women's Shelter - Sigurna ženska kuća) 12,280.80 EUR
NGO Women's Shelter issued and presented to the public the Handbook on Sexual and Reproductive Health. The next stage of the FOSI ROM supported project includes translation of the Handbook to Albanian and its distribution to high-school and university students in all regions of the country.
The Handbook is intended for young people as well as their teachers and parents.
BES approved organization of promotional meetings and presentations in general-program high schools and at university departments. The Handbook will be distributed to school libraries and in camps inhabited by RAE population.
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Tuzi, 9 April, 2009 - Presentation of the Handbook
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Ulcinj, 8 April, 2009 - Presentation of the Handbook
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Podgorica, 12 March, 2009 - Presentation of the Handbook
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Podgorica, 27 February, 2009 - Presentation of the Handbook at Educational center "1 jun"
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Podgorica, 25 February, 2009 - Presentation of the Handbook at Medical High school
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Kotor, 24 February, 2009 - Presentation of the Handbook of Tourism
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Tivat, 5 February, 2009 - Presentation of the Handbook at High school Mladost
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Budva, 5 February, 2009 - Presentation of the Handbook at High school Danilo Kis
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Niksic, 2 December, 2008 - Presentation of the Handbook at High school and Faculty of Philosophy
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Danilovgrad, 27 November, 2008 - Presentation of the Handbook at High school and Police Academy
1. Development of Assessment Catalogues for the First External Matura
(Examination Center of Montenegro) 10,684 EUR
In 2010, the national Examination Center will be organizing the first external matura (final graduation exam) for students of general-program secondary school applying the new curricula. For this purpose, the Center will develop assessment catalogues; in addition to the contents of the exam, the catalogues will present information about exam organization, duration, grading methods, sample items etc. Catalogues are developed by examination panels consisting of representatives of the University, BES and schoolteachers.
The project includes training of catalogue authors and development of catalogues for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, French, Russian, German and Italian and two subjects from the humanities group.
Catalogues are to be completed at least one year before the exam, to enable that both teachers and students are informed about the aims, contents and format of matura exam in repsective courses.
2. Volunteer-Managed Youth Club, Ulcinj
(NGO Forum Youth and Non-Formal Education - Forum MNE) 5,465 EUR
The main aim of the project is development and implementation of the model of volunteer-managed youth club in Ulcinj that would provide continous support to initiatives of young people from different ethnic groups and their active social involvement.
Youth leaders from Tivat, Nikšić and Bijela will first train their colleagues from Ulcinj, who will then design and carry out activities that meet the needs of young people from Ulcinj and at the same time contribute to community development. The project will be implemented betweeen October 2008 and end of August 2009.
1. Research Camp - Physics Summer School
(NGO Prona - Foundation for Promotion of Science) 7,481.50 EUR
Research Camp – Physics Summer School will gather 30 students (grades seven and eight of elementary school and all grades of high school) who achieved top scores in the national maths and physiscs competition. The camp will take place at Ivanova Korita in the last week of August.
The project is designed to broaden participants’ knowledge in science, motivate them for a creative and problem-oriented approach to learning and foster their research spirit. The aim is to inspire their interest for further active involvement in core sciences.
At the same time, the project contributes to an awareness that would inspire a more creative approach in education, especially sciences, and a more active role of students in education reform process.
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Ivanova korita, 24-31 August, 2008
2. Workshop on Strategic Planning for a Youth Magazine
(NGO TNT) 3,983 EUR
NGO TNT, an organization consisting of young people and students who used to publish "Student Tribune" and "Leviathan" magazines, aspires to create a new magazine to inform and animate young people in Montenegro and attract general audience.
The project concerns a workshop where they would define the concept and discourse of the new magazine, discuss models of work and organization, assess options and identify models of sustainability, explore opportunities for regional cooperation, networking and expanding the pool of collaborators and develop a work plan.
During a four-day workshop, renowned experts are supposed to assist young journalists (14 of them from Mojkovac, Berane, Kolašin, Nikšić, Petrovac, Bar and Podgorica) to design and organize - showing an understanding of the essence and principles of media work - a magazine that would rely on the principles of ethics, quality and promotion of universal values.
3. A Publication to Educate High School Students on the Concept of Corruption
(Agency for Anti-Corruption Initiative, in cooperation with the Bureau for Educational Services) 2,300 EUR
The Agency is already working on presenting the issue of corruption and the fight against it to universit students. The given project is a part of the plan to implement similar activities in high schools.
In cooperation with BES, the concept of corruption will be presented in a way that appeals to high school students. 625 copies of the brochure will be issued for students of the following schools: "Slobodan Škerović", Podgorica, "25. maj", Tuzi and "Petar I Petrović Njegoš", Danilovgrad.
The project covers the cost of translating the brochure to Albanian and printing costs.
1. Participation in OSI Youth Bar Camp, Istanbul 21-22 June 2008
(in-house project) 856.51 EUR
OSI New York is launching a Youth Initiative Program. In order for the program to fully respond to the needs of youth, the conference in Istanbul in late June will gather representatives of youth NGOs from around the world and outline the areas of future cooperation.
Examples of best practices will be presented and NGO Forum MNE will give a presentation.
The project covers travel and accommodation expenses for Tamara Krivokapić, Education Program Manager, NGO Forum MNE.
1. Evaluation of Teaching and Learning in Civic Education in Elementary Schools and General-Program Secondary Schools
(Bureau for Educational Services) 7,796.00 EUR
The project is intended to identify the successes, as well as problems and challenges in teaching civic education. Civic Education was introduced as a compulsory course in elementary schools in 2004/05, and as a compulsory elective in general-program secondary schools in 2006/7 through projects supported by the Foundation in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Members of the evaluation team will visit twelve elementary schools and six secondary schools in May 2008, to gather information from civic education teachers, students, school principals and parents. Based on their findings, they will define guidelines for constant upgrading of the quality of teaching and creation of an environment where students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge and skills in practice.
Recommendations will be presented to all relevant stakeholders at the beginning of 2008/09 school year.
Publication: Civic Education in Montenegro: An Evaluation of Teaching and Learning (May-June 2008)
2. Engagement of Johanna Crighton and Tomislav Reškovac as Consultants for the Project of Evaluation of Teaching and Learning in Civil Education in Elementary Schools and General-Program Secondary Schools
(in-house project) 8,157.32 EUR
The team for the project Evaluation of Teaching and Learning in Civil Education in Elementary Schools and General-Program Secondary Schools includes members of the BES Civil Education Section and two international evaluation experts - Johanna Crighton from the UK and Tomislav Reškovac from Croatia.
FOSI-ROM covers the expenses of international experts.
In April 2008. together with BES representatives, they defined the key issues related to the project; in May, they will visit the selected schools that constitute the sample, and in June they are to attend focus groups of teachers and parents, process the data and develop the evaluation report.
Involvement of international evaluators is at the same time a form of training for BES advisers, who will acquire knowledge and develop tools for monitoring and evaluation of teaching and learning civil education.
3. Distribution of the Guide "You are right!" - Guide through the Law. And Everything Else.
(NGO Association for Democratic Prosperity - Zid) 2,634.00 EUR
NGO ADP Zid issued an amended edition of the publication You are right! - Guide through the Law. And Everything Else. intended for students of senior grades of secondary schools. 7,000 copies were printed.
The new project refers to distribution of the Guide in all secondary schools in the country by the end of the current school year, in order to make it available to all students completing secondary school.
FOSI-ROM covers the expenses related to distribution of the Guide and transport.
1. Professional Publications of the Bureau for Educational Services
(BES) 15,640 EUR
BES professional publications are intended to facilitate implementation of the new curricula.
During 2008, BES will prepare and issue publications on the following topics: research in education; trainee teachers; learning methods; teaching language and literature in nine-year elementary school; instructions to curriculum development and implementation of contents on sustainable development; supervision methodology; teaching sciences; teaching humanities. Publications will be distributed to teachers during seminars on implementation of the new curricula. After the Our School series, this project represents continuation of FOSI ROM's support to practical professional publications for teachers.
2. Development of General Subject Curricula for Vocational High Schools
(BES) 7,742.10 EUR
There are different curricula available for a single subject in vocational schools. BES intends to harmonize the standards and develop curricula for general subjects taught in these schools. This is necessary to define the knowledge that students need in order to pass the vocational matura exam, to be introduced in 2010.
The project refers to the work of commissions on three key general subjects: Montenegrin as mother tongue and official language, Albanian and Maths.
3. Development of Curricula for Compulsory Elective Subjects and their Implementation for the Purpose of Matura Standard Supplement
(BES) 14,596 EUR
The generation of second grade students of general program secondary school will be the first to take the external matura exam in 2010. The exam will include two subjects selected by the individual students.
In order to take the exam in a particular subject, a student needs to attend a certain number of lessons in the given subject and subjects related to it, i.e. it is necessary for the subject to fulfill the matura standard.
In 2007, FOSI ROM supported the project to developing the curricula for compulsory subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Sociology and IT. In order to supplement the matura standard for these subjects, this new project envisages development of curricula for compulsory electives: Biochemistry (Chemistry), Sociology of Culture (Sociology), Selected Physics Chapters (Physics), Molecular Biology and Genetics (Biology), Algorithms and programming (IT).
In addition, BES will undertake activities to ensure timely information of students, parents, teachers and schools about compulsory electives and to help schools organize teaching of these subjects.
4. Raising Awareness on the Value and Sustainability of Space
(BES) 12,925 EUR
The project trains teachers to implement new elective subjects – Valuing Space (in elementary) and Analyzing Space (in high school). Three three-day seminars for a group of around sixty teachers will be delivered by BES trainers in the autumn of 2008.
Materials for teachers will be prepared within the project (CDs with instructions on lessons, explaining teaching methods, handbook and workbook).
The project represents the first activity related to the implementation of the Action Plan for the Introduction of Sustainable Development in the Education System, which was prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science in 2007. with FOSI ROM support.
5. Cooperation between Parents and Schools/Strengthening the Capacity of the Parents’Association and Needs Analysis for School Parents’Councils
(Montenegrin Parents’ Association) 18,035.92 EUR
The project envisages strengthening of the capacities of the Association's team of trainers to foster parents' active involvement in schools as of next school year and contribute to the quality of the educational system.
Two three-day basic seminars for five new trainers will be organized between April and late August 2008, as well as a seminar for the whole team of ten trainers. In addition to training, the project includes printing leaflets and posters containing information on the role of parents in the life of a school and identification of specific training needs of parents (in focus groups).
6. Democracy and Education
(NGO Civitas Montenegro Center) 7,000 EUR
The project includes lectures and workshops on the basics of democracy for fourth year students of all departments at the Faculty of Philosophy in Nikšić, to be delivered by Faculty professors, and teacher assistants.
The seminar will be organized during March, April and May 2008.
The aim of the project is to acquaint future teachers of both lower and higher grades of elementary school with the principles, contents and methods of civic education.
7. Youth Camps - Students on School Life
(NGO Forum MNE/) 15,394.50 EUR
The project includes two one-week summer camps (for second- and thrid-grade high school students and seventh and eighth-grade elementary school students from Plužine, Rožaje, Nikšić and Cetinje). NGO Office for the Protection of Student Rights and Student Standard implemented, supported by FOSI ROM, training for students' asociations in their schools in 2007. Based on the experience with student associations, camp participants will develop ideas for further activism to contribute to creating school that suits all students.
Specific topics to be dealt with during the camps are: student activism, student rights and responsibilities, inclusion of students with special needs in education, role of students and others (teachers, parents) in creating school life.
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Podgorica, 13-18 July 2008 - Presentation of the camp
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Podgorica, 3 June 2008 - Press conference
8. Preparation of Evaluation of Civic Education in Elementary and Secondary Education / Engagement of Consultants Johanna Crighton and Tomislav Reškovac
(in-house project) 4,043.18 EUR
Civic education was introduced as a compulsory subject in elementary schools in 2005, and as an elelctive high school subject in 2006. At this moment, it is necessary to assess the teaching of these subjects and define recommendations for improving it before the beginning of school year 2008/2009.
Evaluation will be designed and conducted - in cooperation with BES- by Johanna Crighton (UNESCO, OECD, OSI, UNICEF and World Bank expert on assessing quality in education and education of marginalized groups) and Tomislav Reskovac (education expert, teacher at the Private Classics-Program Secondary School in Zagreb, who was involved in introducing civic education in the Montenegrin educational system).
The project includes prepapration of evaluation in a series of meetings of the two experts with BES representatives and civic education teachers.
(Examination Center of Motnenegro) 14,675.05 EUR
This project represents a continuation of support to PISA project in Montenegro. The OECD research program assessing the capacity of 15-year old students to apply the knowledge and skils acquired in school is conducted in a number of countries every three-years (the most recent one, conducted in 2006, included 56 countries). A new testing will follow in 2009.
The project refers to coordination of activities related to the preparation and implementation of pilot testing - a segment of the comprehensive process of preparatory activities for the main testing in April/May 2008.