The quality of the existing school infrastructure is a big problem, the lack of appropriate equipment and materials for teaching and learning affects the quality of education, and hygiene in schools is one of the main problems, according to the Draft Education Strategy for the period from 2025 to 2035.
Water, the document says, is mostly available at hand-washing stations, but soap and hand dryers are rare. Not even a fifth of schools have hot water, the document warned.
"Hot water is available throughout the school year in only about 18 percent of institutions. Places to wash hands are available for the youngest students, while in half of the institutions they are not suitable for people with limited mobility and disabilities. Schools generally do not keep records of toilet cleaning, and school staff are not trained in cleaning procedures, safe and adequate use of cleaning products and protective equipment. Although the education of students about personal hygiene is included in the curriculum, group activities such as joint hand washing are not implemented in most institutions", it was emphasized.
The public debate on the Education Reform Strategy Draft began at the end of last week and will last until January 2.
The process of creating a comprehensive document, it was emphasized, was initiated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and UNICEF, and it is supported by that UN fund and the Delegation of the European Union in Montenegro.
"Research by the Institute for Public Health (IJZ), conducted with the help of UNICEF in Montenegro in 2022, showed that 81 percent of schools use drinking water provided from the public water supply, while the rest, mostly from rural areas, supplied from other sources (local waterworks, local springs, wells,...). Schools generally do not have alternative sources of water supply and do not take measures for water purification (filtration, chlorination,...), including schools that are supplied with water from the so-called unimproved sources", the document states.
When it comes to sanitation, a third of institutions in suburban or rural areas have toilets connected to a septic tank or septic tank.
"Most toilets in schools meet the criteria of accessibility and functionality, but not privacy. The ratio of the number of students in relation to the number of toilets is high in schools in urban areas, while 18 percent of schools do not meet the prescribed norm regarding the number of toilets for female students, and seven percent do not meet the same norm for male students," the document states.
In the upcoming period, it is emphasized, it is necessary to establish and improve norms and standards related to hygienic and sanitary conditions in schools, but also to connect the information systems of the IJZ and the Ministry of Education and regular exchange of data for the purpose of quality policies and interventions.
Assessment, textbooks...
Although regulations ensure regular assessment of students and provision of feedback to parents, significant challenges remain in the way assessment supports student learning and development, the Draft Strategy assessed.
It was emphasized that while the reforms tended to shift to competency-based learning, classroom assessment practices lagged behind.
"One of the key problems is the mismatch between the goals of the Montenegrin curriculum, designed to encourage critical thinking, creativity and problem solving, and the actual assessment practices in classrooms. Despite its curricular ambitions, assessment often emphasizes the reproduction of content, limiting its role in fostering higher order cognitive skills. Internal assessment focuses heavily on memorization rather than competency development," it said.
In the following period, grades must be harmonized with the goals of the program, and knowledge standards and grading criteria must be developed for all subjects and classes. It was emphasized that it is necessary to create guidelines and train teachers to use different assessment methods in class - self-assessment, peer assessment, assessment of practical works, group projects, portfolios, presentations.
"...In order to ensure that the assessment is a function of student development and a constant balanced representation of the diagnostic, formative and summative function of assessment, with the performance of assessments at the end of the semester and at the end of the year", it is emphasized.
The document warns that Montenegro has made certain efforts to harmonize textbooks and teaching materials with recent curriculum reforms.
“But there are areas where further improvements are necessary to fully support the learning process. The Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids is working to improve and diversify teaching resources... However, certain challenges remain - especially when it comes to ensuring that textbooks consistently promote critical thinking and bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. In secondary vocational schools, textbooks are traditionally seen as too academic and unrelated to real skills", it was specified.
Introduction of salary grades for teachers
The document also recognizes the fact that the quality of the educational system of Montenegro directly depends on the personnel structure and competencies of employees at all levels of education. It is emphasized that the Analysis of the education sector for the period from 2015 to 2020, as well as the results of students on national tests and the achievements of students in international studies, indicate the necessity of improving the initial education of teachers, their professional development and the engagement of qualified and motivated professional staff.
"Although the system of professional development of teachers was developed and legally regulated, it did not lead to the desired effects due to insufficient financial resources for professional development of teachers in the previous period, lack of internal motivation among teachers/educators and inadequate application of acquired knowledge and skills in teaching practice", it was warned. .
The draft strategy reiterates that there is a shortage of teachers in the field of natural sciences, which has been a pronounced problem for a long time.
"...And there is still no solution for continuous training of qualified teachers to overcome this problem. In some municipalities, the shortage of teachers in preschool institutions is becoming more and more pronounced. The education system does not even provide the required number of professionals, especially psychologists, speech therapists, defectologists, pedagogues and social workers...", it was emphasized.
Therefore, in the coming decade, it is emphasized, the attractiveness and reputation of the profession of educators, teachers and other educational workers should be improved by developing policies to improve working conditions, including wages, opportunities for career advancement and care for mental health and well-being.
"This entails revising and updating salary grades to align with trends in the labor market, introducing financial incentives for teachers in rural areas and teachers who work outside their place of residence, providing opportunities for vertical advancement..." are the proposals from the Draft Strategy.
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