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Education Forum in Bosnia and Herzegovina supports implementation priorities
SARAJEVO 8 April 2003
SARAJEVO, 8 April 2003 - Swift adoption of the state law on primary and secondary education and formulation of a common core curriculum before the next school year were the main issues discussed at an Education Forum held in Sarajevo today.
The forum, which was attended by 200 stakeholders in education, including ministers of education of Bosnia and Herzegovina's two entities and the Federation's cantons, was held to discuss implementation priorities before the next school year.
"Speedy passage of the Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education is essential in order to put in place a foundation that supports further reform and modernization efforts", said Ambassador Robert Beecroft, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). "As the name implies, this law provides a framework that meets international human rights and education standards. We urge that the law move through the parliamentary process as quickly as possible."
A state law on education and a common core curriculum are part of BiH's post accession commitments to the Council of Europe. The common core curriculum is outlined in the education reform pledges that were made by BiH education authorities at a meeting of the Peace Implementation Council last November. The common core curriculum establishes a common foundation on which to build a modernized curriculum for all children in BiH.
Furthermore, participants in the forum discussed steps that needed to be taken in order for the country to be included in the Bologna Process on reform in higher education. Completion of a draft framework law for higher education was discussed as well as further steps in the implementation of the Interim Agreement on Accommodation of the Specific Needs and Rights of Returnee Children and the re-establishment of the Textbook Commission.
"There is little doubt that we have made significant progress since the last education forum held last November", concluded Ambassador Beecroft. "At that meeting, working groups presented the goals and objectives for education reform. Today we, the ministers and education experts, have presented concrete steps which are being taken to bring visible changes to the education system of BiH by the next school year. And I am confident that by the next forum we will be reporting on the actual implementation of those changes."
The forum, which was attended by 200 stakeholders in education, including ministers of education of Bosnia and Herzegovina's two entities and the Federation's cantons, was held to discuss implementation priorities before the next school year.
"Speedy passage of the Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education is essential in order to put in place a foundation that supports further reform and modernization efforts", said Ambassador Robert Beecroft, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). "As the name implies, this law provides a framework that meets international human rights and education standards. We urge that the law move through the parliamentary process as quickly as possible."
A state law on education and a common core curriculum are part of BiH's post accession commitments to the Council of Europe. The common core curriculum is outlined in the education reform pledges that were made by BiH education authorities at a meeting of the Peace Implementation Council last November. The common core curriculum establishes a common foundation on which to build a modernized curriculum for all children in BiH.
Furthermore, participants in the forum discussed steps that needed to be taken in order for the country to be included in the Bologna Process on reform in higher education. Completion of a draft framework law for higher education was discussed as well as further steps in the implementation of the Interim Agreement on Accommodation of the Specific Needs and Rights of Returnee Children and the re-establishment of the Textbook Commission.
"There is little doubt that we have made significant progress since the last education forum held last November", concluded Ambassador Beecroft. "At that meeting, working groups presented the goals and objectives for education reform. Today we, the ministers and education experts, have presented concrete steps which are being taken to bring visible changes to the education system of BiH by the next school year. And I am confident that by the next forum we will be reporting on the actual implementation of those changes."