Comment/ Future Development
The Croatian educational policy is focused on developing a knowledge society by improving quality and anhancing all levels of the education system. The Croatian Government's strategic document, Education Sector Development Plan 2005-2010, stressed the following as key development priorities: continuing professional development of education staff through lifelong learning and professional development programmes, the importance of education for social cohesion, economic growth and development.
In order for young people to seize the opportunities offered to them by the world, and to contribute to its development, they should have the necessary knowledge, be able to promptly and flexibly respond to changes, actively participate in the social development and continuously receive education during their entire working life.
Due to the development of new techologies, the process of globalisation and constant changes in the labour market, the system of education needs to be modernized so as to allow the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.
For the purpose of encouraging the development of adjustable and diverse working population that continually improves its knowledge and skills, Croatia's development goal is to modernize its educational system, by focusing on the creation of the society and economy based on human capital. The building of such a society rests upon enabling everyone access to education, upon quality and focusing on the continual development of talents and needs of individuals.
In order to get as many young people as possible prepared for the challenges posed by the era of constant technological changes and innovations, a proposal for the extension of compulsory education until the acquisition of the first qualification has been set forth. Its aim is to provide a large number of young people with key competencies for living and working in the modern society.
Specific priority areas in the development plan through 2010 include:
• Improving teaching and learning in schools, developing knowledge and skills by training teachers and improving their social and monetary status;
• Improving working conditions in schools and upgrading school equipment;
• Developing the habit of lifelong learning, according to market needs;
• Increasing the use of information and communications technology;
• Strengthening the role of schools in preventing socially unacceptable behaviour;
• Encouraging varied means of helping pupils with their learning and extra-curricular activities and creating an atmosphere which makes the school a learning community in which close and respectful relationships are built;
• Improving management of educational institutions and introducing a system of monitoring and external evaluating education;
• Rationalising and decentralising the educational system;
• Increasing direct support to regional development;
• Increasing family participation, the local community and other partners in improving the educational system;
• Innovative approaches to the educational process and harmonization with EU programmes on all levels;
• Harmonising the Croatian higher education system with the European system;
• Strengthening national and cultural values;
• Strengthening the awareness of belonging to the European cultural circle.
These and other activities should galvanise the quality of the overall educational system, make it accessible to all and improve the education and permanent professional training of teachers in Croatia.