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Policy development for quality and equity in education – Bosnia and Hercegovina. Regional conference “Policy development and monitoring for quality and equity in education” Beograd, 06 – 07.12. 2011 . Dženana Husremović Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo . Where to start?.
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Policy development for quality and equity in education – Bosnia and Hercegovina Regional conference “Policy development and monitoring for quality and equity in education” Beograd, 06 – 07.12. 2011 DženanaHusremović Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo
Where to start? • ES in BiH is currently determined more by political forces and speculations then evidence based and scientific influence • Public discussion is reduced to development of national and religious identity so one could get a feeling that the main aim of education system is to create well tuned members of some national or religious group • No visible and intense discussions on the real aims of education
On the other hand... • Many evidences that something is wrong in education like: • TIMMS results in 2007 / 2008 • Increased demand for private tutoring • Problems with inclusion (especially for high schools) • Constant complaints from professors in higher education and employers about the quality of competences among young people
Why? • World Bank report for CAE countries: • Lack of systematic data on key skills-related performance issues • Legacy of central planning • Inefficient use of resources • Additionally: • No standard curriculum for teacher training on university level, quality of students enrolling teaching faculties • Lack of strong networking http://siteresources.worldbank.org/ECAEXT/Resources/101411_FullReport.pdf
Issues of equity • If we don’t have an objective data on learning outcomes and employability is it even possible to talk authentically about equity?
Key competencies as learning outcomes • National research on mapping the presence and cross-curricularity of the key competencies in education on pre-university level with the aim of promoting key competencies as main learning outcomes • Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on key competences for lifelong learning, 2006 • Key Competences for Lifelong Learning, European Reference Framework, 2007
Methodology of research • Mapping the key competencies in official curricula, textbooks and teaching practices (student’s and teachers' perspectives) • 17 elementary schools, 13 general high schools and 16 vocational schools • Questionnaire containing 92 indicators for 12 basic and 4 additional subjects
List of key competencies for BiH • Communication in the mother tongue • Communication in foreign languages • Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology • ICT literacy (digital competence in EU framework) • Learning to learn • Social and civic competences • Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship • Cultural awareness and expression • Creativity and productive competencies • Physical and health competencies
Main results of research • Competencies are mostly tied to their nominal subjects – ICT literacy, mathematical competence and health competencies as extreme cases • Low presence of sense of initiative and entrepreneurship as key competence for life long career development
Main results of research • Learning to learn – lower average values in perception of students then other competencies • Creativity and productive competencies mostly tied to languages and art, no ties with natural sciences • Basic competences in science and technology tied to natural sciences, while humanities and social sciences lack this competence
Recommendations • The research team recommended concrete steps for each competence with the common denominators: • Revision of all curricula with key competencies as learning outcomes • Revision of textbooks and preparation of guidelines for future authors emphasizing key competencies • Trainings for teachers and development of systematic appraisal system
Promising improvement • Public awareness that something is wrong (special contribution of unskilled and unemployed university graduates) • Public debate in FBiH on new frame curriculum for elementary education • Strengthening the position and activities of State agency • Improvement in cooperation between academic community and other stakeholders
Where to go? • First, toward appreciation of objective data on efficacy and equity in ES as a base for education policy reform • Second, toward more flexibility in school management • Third, toward the new and inovative ways of teaching and learning withinn the mainstream education system
Thank you for the attention dzenana.husremovic@ff.unsa.ba