On Monday students will return to classes after winter break and already in the first week of the second semester follows the external testing of high school graduates.
Minister Spiro Ristovski in the tabulation of the result in 2013 before New Year, and during seven months as he is leading this department, singled out the introduction of external testing project. As significant he pointed out the signed a contract with Cambridge curricula and textbooks (which will be in use from September), the international IB program (as a pilot project in two elementary schools in Skopje) and construction of buildings, five school buildings, six mounting schools and 12 schools gyms.
For the first time this year, the graduates will be externally tested. The novelty is that are available all possible questions, and there was option for reporting problems in system or illogical questions. How many and what types of comments you received and what you expect from the new approach to testing, which will also apply to other students for taking the exam at end of the school year?
In this second year of implementation of external testing in cooperation with all stakeholders, we created system that is significantly improved; it is more transparent, more open and closer to students. System creates knowledge instead stress that, in fact, is the goal of this crucial reform. Around 60,000 questions for the high school graduates whose achievements will be reviewed, were made public and available to them, teachers and finally to all citizens who may send comments.
For half a month we received 720 comments, most of which in the last two days. Out of these, 360 objections were related to the specific questions and 360 were general comments. Everything that made sense and was appropriate was accepted, and was made corrections on 151 questions in terms of concept, translation and editing.
These days and teachers are wary as they expected announcement of the ranking of objectivity in the assessment or the results of the first external test 2012/2013. Penalties were announced for large deviations. What exactly does law prescribe for teachers who biased evaluated students’ knowledge?
According to legal provisions, based on the reports from the external evaluation conducted on students’ achievement, up to 20 percent of teachers who have received the fewest deviations indicators will get salary increases for next year by 15 percent and vice-versa.
The aim is to increase the objectivity of those teachers who due to different reasons in the past gave to students unrealistic assessments that was not deserved according to the gained knowledge. The report is ready and soon will be published.
MES in 2014 will have a record high budget of nearly 22.4 billion MKD. Which segments of education will receive most of the funds?
The budget provides investment and strategic reforms in all educational segments, ie primary, secondary, higher education and science. It is planned to extend the existing projects and expansion of some of them, as well as introduction of many new projects and activities.
If classified by purpose, they will contribute to infrastructure development and improvement of the overall quality of the education process. Great support and assistance in the process of decentralization in the field of education will receive units of local government.
This year we have the largest budget to date, which is evidence of priority that the Government is giving to this area.
Within the capital investment, MES has several-year plan for construction or reconstruction of schools. Which communities will get new school buildings this year?
It is planned opening of four new schools in Bogovinje, Saraj and Shuto Orizari. Six prefab schools in rural areas, in villages Marena – Kavadarci, Berovce and Galichani – Prilep, Selce Kech – Bogovinje, Karamanlides and Krklino – Bitola, and soon we will start the procedure for prefab schools in eight other municipalities. It is envisaged extension of two schools in Shuto Orizari and we will reconstruct total of 38 school buildings.
You promised reconstruction of dormitories most of which are in the unenviable situation. Which dormitories are priority and when will you start?
Soon you we will put into operation the new facilities in the dormitory “Stiv Naumov”. The facilities are already built and the final stage is connecting with power, heat and water supply network. Around the beginning of the summer starts the reconstruction of the dormitory “Goce Delchev”. We start by rebuilding the block B as priority and then the other blocks.
After completing the activities in this dormitory, we will begin construction of an entirely new facility for the dormitory “Nevena Georgieva Dunja”. The capacity of the dormitories is limited and with aim to avoid bringing into question the accommodation of students who meet the legal requirements for it, the reconstruction will be in phases in accordance with the temporal dynamics in the action plan for reconstruction.
Government of Republic of Macedonia through MES implemented two major projects – the translation of technical books and purchase of laboratories for scientific research. Does the academic community satisfy you with their use?
We are talking about two capital projects that are positive feature of a time in which science and literature finally received proper treatment and different dimension. Students and the general reading public, academic, scientific research and business community, now have the opportunity to follow and apply the latest technological advancements and literature that is taught in most universities worldwide. Something that in the past was not even discuss as field of investment, let alone to be a priority.
Laboratories that were provided by the Government are used for the development of practical skills and competencies of students, as well as in the scientific field. They have greater application. This commercial use will further intensify in the accreditation of all laboratories. It is a process that is ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. While professional and scholarly books from the world’s top writers are available in all university and public libraries within the faculties and the free market, and are often used as material for the subjects and exams, as the content is better and more practical than any given script.