SCHOOL EDUCATION ACT A draft Ministry of Education, Youth and Science SCHOOL EDUCATION ACT A draft ROUND TABLE: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES OF SCHOOL AUTONOMY REFORMS IN BULGARIA September 13, 2010 Sofia

School 21st Century Strategy 2020 Totally different global, social, economic and information context New public expectations to the education of children and students Children - heralds of new time Strategy 2020 Public discussion on “The Bulgarian School” School Education Act

Mission of Education Education, Science and Youth Policies Development Program 2009-2013 To play a decisive role in the fight against poverty To be a deterring factor against social exclusion of large groups of people Individual success is the system’s most important task Every citizen is entitled to quality assured education, adequate to his/her needs and abilities

Basic elements of modern school education policy   MANAGEMENT of the system : based on objectives, values and strict allocation of responsibilities among the levels of governance; enhancing the role of major stakeholders ASSESSMENT and measurement of : results; quality of educational environment CONTENT: focused on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship PEDAGOGY : aimed at developing the potential of every single child (qualified teachers, modern school environment) SUPPORT : to children, parents and teachers  CONTROL : based on objectives, values and efficient distribution of responsibilities among stakeholders; improvement of accountability mechanisms

SCHOOL EDUCATION ACT State Policy Education is a national priority Children and students are the main asset of the education system Framework character of the Act Introduction of State Educational Standards Scope:preschool upbringing and training, school upbringing and education

SCHOOL EDUCATION ACT Principles Integrated systemic approach Equity Free education Secular education State-public principle Autonomy of school policies Right to free choice

SCHOOL EDUCATION ACT Principles Monitoring and assessment of the quality of educational environment Diagnostics and evaluation of the individual development and potential of every child and student Humanistic nature of education Inclusive education Integrated cultural-educational environment Obligatory character of literary Bulgarian language

Topical objectives of school education reform Enhancing system’s efficiency Enhancing quality of education Improving equity mechanisms Improving accountability mechanisms Strengthening the role of major stakeholders

enhanced efficiency of education results Improving equity mechanisms Quality measurement Additional financing to central and protected schools Specialized support to children and students from vulnerable groups External national assessment for the 4th, 7th & 12th grades and publishing of the results A special resource flow for stimulating higher quality of education and better students’ achievements

enhanced quality of education Strong school leadership Certification for educational unit management Obligatory initial, continuing and higher qualification Independence in defining the strength of staff, size of classes and individual remuneration of teachers Sanctions upon poor delegated budget management or negative attestation

Greater compatibility between school policies and needs Enhancing school autonomy School autonomy: school curricula, school regulations, extra-curricula activities plan, qualification activities plan Power of teachers to freely define the means and methods of educative process Teachers select textbooks and teaching aids

Strengthening of accountability Setting up a quality control institution Providing more public information on school performance National Education Inspectorate (NEI) – an independent body Analyzing: quality of educational environment, ambient setting for conducting the process of education and upbringing, students’ results, qualification of teachers, quality of management NEI publishes annual reports on the state of the system Schools make their budgets public, parents get a copy of the school budget Municipalities publish the allocation of funds on education by school

Strengthening the role of major stakeholders Empowering school boards of trustees Powers to municipalities in the process of appointing school principals A mandatory Board of Trustees (BT) approves the school strategy and development plan and the school budget Municipality representatives are members of BTs by default Representatives of the Municipality, the Regional Education Directorate and the Board of Trustees are involved on parity basis in the process of electing school principals Annual assessment of school principals’ performance by way of mandatory attestation carried out by representatives of the Municipality and the Board of Trustees

“It is time to be bold and ambitious” Jose Manuel Barroso