THE EDUCATION IS LACKING A METHOD FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT

The cabinet has extended by three years the deadline for creating a methodology for determining the educational results of kindergartens and schools. In addition, it envisages allocating money to improve the quality of secondary education.

The requirement to submit a draft methodology for quality assessment has been for three and a half years - from January 1, 2018, and the deadline for its adoption is June 30, 2021. Upon taking office, the Ministry of education and science (MES) found that such a methodology doesn't exist. A partial method covers only the education between IV and VII grade, but not the entire educational system. No data establishes and validates the process, and there is no procedure for collecting them. In addition, the key factors that strongly influence school performance are not correctly accounted for. Among other things, these include the language spoken in the family and the parent's educational level. There's no attempt to develop a quality assessment in kindergartens at all.

In addition, the Preschool and School Education Act (PSA) requires the methodology to take into account the assessment of the inspection carried out by the National Inspectorate of Education in all kindergartens and schools. From October 2018 to June 2021, 333 educational institutions out of a total of 4151 were inspected. The data show that with the inspectorate's current capacity and system of work, the inspection of all schools and kindergartens will take about 30 years. There's a need for changes in the inspectorate's functions and/or capacity, which may lead to a change in the WSA.

Postponing the methodology by three years will allow for everything necessary for the educational system to function correctly.