ERI SEE Regional conference Introduction and implementation of standards-based education in SEE – models and challenges | ERI SEE

In the ongoing process of reforms of their education and training systems, all ERI SEE member countries have identified quality, equity and transparency as strategic objectives. Achieving these objectives require establishment of a national assessment and examination system. Standards and the process of defining them make an important aspect of national assessment. In this context, the majority of the ERI SEE member countries initiated the reform process with the aim at introducing transparent outcome standards for different educational levels. These standards-driven approaches to education reform led to the reorganisation of the structure and content of final exams marking the end of the primary and secondary education (introduction of standardised exams in the form of state matura). On the other hand, the standards-based education represent a challenge for teaching practices and work of schools and require fundamental changes in instructional practices, capacity building and teacher professional development as key ingredients in support of reforms.

Introduction and implementation of standards-based education is a continuous process, closely linked to changes in the status and role of education in society. One of the purposes of standards-based education is to equalise the quality of functioning of decentralised education systems, both at the national and international level. The good national standards can: create a coherent system; promote purposeful and constructive change; establish clear goals for learning; and raise the overall quality of education. On the other hand, some argue that establishing national standards will detract from many positive local reforms and inhibit the development of initiatives at the national and local levels. Others worry about the effects of such standards, fearing that they will result in minimum standards that will drag down the entire system and ignore the most capable students.

Bearing in mind the importance of the issues to be addressed, this conference is aimed to support the process of mutual learning and exchange of national experiences and good practices and to receive more information on the current debates and developments on these topics in the SEE countries, as well as on the EU level. By bringing a regional and EU perspective, the conference will provide the opportunity to be acquainted with the similarities and differences in the approaches applied in different countries. The conference will also address the possibilities for future regional cooperation in the area of standards-based education.

The main objectives of the conference are:

• to exchange the information on models of standards-based education in pre-tertiary education in SEE
• to facilitate peer-learning in SEE on good practices in the implementation of standards-based education and introduction of the state matura
• to discuss the policy approaches for addressing effects of standards-based education to higher education policy and teacher training policies

The conference aims to discuss these topics from various expert viewpoints bringing together policy makers, research community, teachers and school principals, representatives from the state institutions dealing with standards in education as well as the representatives from universities. The participants are accepted to come from all ERI SEE countries.

The event will be organised by the Centre for Education Policy acting as the interim Secretariat of ERI SEE.

• Agenda and presentations
• General Report