The primary objective of the Republic of Croatia, in accordance with the Lisbon strategy objectives, is development of a knowledge-based society and an on-going improvement of the system of education, science and systematic quality strengthening, in order to achieve a long term economic growth and increase competitiveness, by high-quality human capital formation.
Under the Education System Development Plan 2005-2010, a strategic development document dating from 2005, the overall policy is oriented to the improvement of education, science and research, as important pre-requisites for achieving development and competitiveness in the European market economy. The contents and activities were established, which should contribute to the development of a higher-quality, more accessible, more adaptable and efficient system of science and education, for the purpose of intellectual and human capital formation, as a key asset to the economy.
In the pedagogical year 2005/2006, 15 new kindergartens were established in 15 municipalities in the areas of special state concern (Sisak-Moslavina County, Slavonski Brod- Posavina County and Karlovac County), where no preschool programs previously existed. In the school year 2005/2006, the Experimental Programme and Curriculum was introduced in 49 primary schools, based on the Croatian National Educational Standard (CNES), the implementation and realisation of which was monitored and evaluated by the Institute of Social Studies Ivo Pilar. As of the school year 2006/2007, the new Programme and Curriculum was introduced in all primary schools. In that regard, the Institute of Education of the Republic of Croatia, which was restructured and renamed to the Education and Teacher Training Agency, together with the Ministry conducted professional training for 2,762 primary school employees. As a preparation for the state secondary school leaving exam, the first national exams were carried out in general secondary school programmes, and external evaluation of education was thus introduced and the first international education quality assessment within the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) project of OECD was conducted. The Vocational Education Agency, together with its partners, carried out measures aimed at a reduction of vocational areas from 32 to 14, which reduced vocational specialisations from 330 to 199. The preparations began for the introduction of a prolonged compulsory education from an 8-year primary education to secondary education (11-12 years). The first phase of the Bologna process has been successfully completed and three priority objectives were thus achieved: restructuring of higher education programmes, recognition of foreign higher education qualifications and development of a quality assurance system. In January 2006, the first phase of the integrated financing of higher education institutions began - lump sum. The Ministry, together with the Development and Employment Fund, launched a project Development of Vocational Higher Education Studies, for the purpose of promoting employment in smaller urban areas in the Republic of Croatia. The Adult Education Agency has been established. The proposal of the Croatian qualification framework has been prepared, which represents an important precondition for the regulation of the overall life-long training. The Croatian Institute of Technology (HIT d.o.o.) has also been established. In addition, the Council for Pedagogical Standard and Council for Preschool, Primary and Secondary School Education System Curriculum have been established. The IT infrastructure in the education system has been systematically enhanced. In the period 2007-2009 the establishment of a greater number of preschool programmes and equipment of preschool institutions will continue, as well as inclusion of a greater number of
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children, especially those in smaller urban areas. The implementation of the new Programme and Curriculum for primary schools will systematically be monitored and evaluated, and amended accordingly. By lifting the burden from teaching contents, introducing new learning and teaching methods, practicing student oriented teaching and including students in research- oriented teaching of classes, the students will gain permanent and useful knowledge and skills, required for a life-long learning. Schools will be additionally provided with didactic equipment and the National Curriculum will be prepared.
The national exams are planned to be conducted for 8th grade students for the purpose of
verifying whether their grades in regular education are compliant with the results in national exams, creation of the foundation for measuring the performance in national exams in secondary education and establishment of the external evaluation system in primary education. The National Centre for External Evaluation of Education will be additionally equipped, in terms of experts, equipment and space, and will conduct annual national exams and preparations for the state secondary school leaving exam, which will be introduced in 2009 for students in general secondary school programmes. In 2009, the Croatian students will, for the second time, participate in the PISA international knowledge assessment, which will allow for a reliable comparison with the achievements of students in Europe and throughout the world, and indicate the required improvements in the education system.
Continued efforts are planned in secondary education, aimed at the realisation of the strategic objectives, encompassing a reduction in the number of educational areas, based on the partner analysis of the labour market needs, as well as a continued work on the sector analysis and a joint work on the Croatian qualification framework, exit competencies and modernisation of the teaching programmes and curricula, and adoption of the curriculum as the final result. A systematic professional training of primary and secondary school teachers will continue, as well as of associate staff and principals, carried out by the Education and Teacher Training Agency and Vocational Education Agency. The preconditions will be ensured for the prolongation of the compulsory education. It is estimated that over 80,000 of young people aged 18, born in the same year, fail to graduate from secondary school, which indicates that this number would be significantly reduced by the prolongation of the compulsory education. This will allow for a further education for a greater number of students and contribute to an increase in the present percentage of the population with a university degree (7.82%), bringing Croatia closer to the developed European countries, in terms of population with a university degree.
Free books will be provided for all pupils in elementary schools and in first classes of secondary schools in school year 2007/2008. Estimated total cost is HRK 240m. All pupils will have obligation of keeping books because the year later they will give them to younger colleges. It’s estimated that about third books will be lost or erased in year and therefore additional assets will be necessary in following years.
In higher education and science, the activities are aimed at a further implementation of the Bologna process, creation of the network of higher education institutions and a further development of vocational higher education studies, through the establishment of new higher education institutions, inclusion of a greater number of population in higher education, promotion of excellence, and an increase in investment in research and development, in order to strengthen the knowledge and technology transfer, contributing, in this manner, to the economic development.
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4.7 OTHER REFORMS