Useful practices in educational systems – management, organization, standards.

FLS “Romain Rolland”, Stara Zagora

Useful practices in school’s management

Body of Bulgarian Educational System

The body of Bulgarian educational system is constructed by a number of institutions

Ministry of education

Regional offices

of inspection

Principles of schools

Produces and conducts state educational politics; Creates comfortable conditions for educational system’s regular functioning; controls, coordinates

Organizational and controlling function in districts

Organization, control and responsibility for the overall activity of schools

Organization and management of Bulgarian schools

Principle

Sub principle And

school office

Pedagogical council

Parents council

Student council

Structure and functions of Pedagogical Council

Pedagogical council

Sub- principles TeachersPedagogical

counselor

Representatives of Parents council

Analyses, approves and decides on: School’s strategy School’s educational plan Academic results – analysis and forecast Decisions concerning students School’s symbols and rituals

Support school’s activity.

Structure and functions of Student Council

MembersChairmen of commissions

President

Represents students’ opinion => Has the role of a mediator between students and the

body of school management. Organizes events from school life and history.

In all educational systems… However

Ministry of education decides on the educational politics

There exist regional controlling institutions for examining the quality of education

Tend to involve parents in the educational process

In Bulgaria there is lack of coordination and mutual relation between the ministry and schools

Institutions do not support teachers but only control them formally

Parents are involved only formally => their opinion is hardly taken into consideration when deciding on the organization of educational process

Useful practices in the organisation of educational

process

Useful practices in the organization Useful practices in the organization of educational processof educational process

Holland: special subject ‘Life analysis’ France: special classes for Career and

Qualification planning including team- work.

Bulgaria: philosophical educational cycle, including subjects such as Psychology, Logics, Ethics, Law, Philosophy, etc. Career planning relies on the good will and personal initiative of single teachers.

Special Subjects Taught

Special Subjects Taught “Do you think that Bulgarian educational system should

include the subject ‘Life analyses”.

ParentsStudents

yes

no

11,40%7,50%

88,60% 92,50%

0,00%

20,00%

40,00%

60,00%

80,00%

100,00%

yes

no

Interesting response

“YES”

Because anti-social types have become a “critical mass”.

In order to reduce aggression and crime, to establish clear rules of communication between fellow citizens.

Extracurricular activities A main characteristic of American schools is the

high priority given to sports, clubs and activities (volleyball, swimming, Math, Drama, Art, etc.)

In England extra- curricular activities are paid at will (such as short picnics, Drama classes, voluntary work, etc.)

Bulgarian educational system supplies students with extra classes for advanced education, which are participated at will (such as History, Science, Math, Biology, etc.) However, they hold an extra financial burden.

Extracurricular activities

ParentsStudents

yes

no

6,80%

0,00%

93,20%100,00%

0,00%

20,00%

40,00%

60,00%

80,00%

100,00%

yes

no

Do you consider a good idea to import more extracurricular activities in Bulgarian education?

“YES”

Because an excellent academic education combined with strong physical preparation constructs an out-standing personality.

Right of choice England: There are 3 ‘core’ subjects. Other

subjects are chosen by every single student. There are even more extra- subjects.

Sweden: Limited choice of education in the primary but in the secondary a lot more choices become available: there are 17 National programs, divided into special orientations.

Bulgaria: Students have the right to choose the type of high- school they would like to apply for.

Mechanism of educational process

Sweden: education pays attention to individual talents of each student. Students and parents are involved firmly in the

educational process. Until the 8th grade there are not official marks

• USA: subjects are divided not in classes, but in levels.

• France: The classes are longer, but this is compensated by the fact that they do not have any homework or are given very small amounts of such.

Bulgaria: Theoretical knowledge is combined with individual preparation, leading to momentary memorization of the school material, which is fast forgotten by the students.

Mechanism of educational process

Mechanism of educational process

ParentsStudents

yes

no

34,10%

14,90%

65,90%

85,10%

0,00%

10,00%

20,00%

30,00%

40,00%

50,00%

60,00%

70,00%

80,00%

90,00%

yes

no

Do you find the American practice of dividing the educational process in levels instead of classes, effective?

Useful practices in creating skills

Skills of teamwork

Holland: Students are trained to work mainly in groups

Bulgaria: More attention is paid on individual work and preparation but not on teamwork

Skills of teamwork

ParentsStudents

yes

no

79,50% 85,10%

20,50%

14,90%

0,00%

10,00%

20,00%

30,00%

40,00%

50,00%

60,00%

70,00%

80,00%

90,00%

yes

no

Do you think that our educational system pays enough attention on the creation of teamwork skills of high quality?

Professional orientation

The USA: Students use the help of a special person called Student counselor, who gives them information and advice about their further enrolment in society.

Holland: Students are trained methods of leading a successful job- interview or writing a good motivation letter, which prepares them for their future career.

Bulgaria: Students are given only partial guidelines about their realization.

Professional orientation

ParentsStudents

yes

no

61,40%59,20%

38,60% 40,80%

0,00%

10,00%

20,00%

30,00%

40,00%

50,00%

60,00%

70,00%

yes

no

Will the quality of education change if students are guided towards their professional career in primary schools?

Skills of comprehension, analysis and summary

Holland: schools rely on many tasks requiring to compare two phenomena, facts or events.Thus, the gradual accumulation of similar difficulty in logical exercises prepare students for university exams, where this kind of logic verification tasks of intelligence constitute a huge share.

Most European schools: practice of creating skills of comprehending, analyzing and synthesizing information from various sources.

Bulgaria: a tendency to form such skills. However, up to now Bulgarian students have developed mainly skills of learning huge amounts of information and re-creating it.

Skills of free and well- founded argumentation

Finland: students have been taught how to prepare short oral presentations since their first years in school

France: students graduate by presenting and defending a group project, which combines knowledge from the fields of several different school subjects

Bulgaria: working on group presentations starts relatively late, in the high- school. Discussions and debates are also organized.

Skills of being tolerant to cultural, religious differences etc.

To sum up, the core of an efficienteducational system should be the principle of

tolerance. Tolerance is needed between the subjects of

the educational process and the existing cultural models.

Thank you for your attention