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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Education reform to help meet needs of developing workforce

Belgrade, 12 July 2005

Assistant Minister of Education and Sport Dejana Milijic-Subic said at a conference on reforms in secondary-school education, held in Belgrade, that the Serbian education authorities want to create a system of secondary schools competitive with the systems in neighbouring countries.

The programme of reforms in secondary education, initiated by the Ministry of Education and Sport two years ago, is being conducted in cooperation with the EU’s European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR).

Milijic-Subic said that in the past two years, Serbian schools have improved their cooperation with companies, and attuned their courses with the country’s economic needs, thus enabling students to find jobs more easily after graduating.

Assistant Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Policy Radmila Katic-Bukumiric recalled that the economy demands a certain educational profile of workers, and the society should aim to provide such workers.

EAR representative Dejan Suvakov explained that the reforms in secondary education aim at developing a modern and contemporary system that would enable constant improvement and learning.

He added that Serbia’s economic development and social stability are conditioned by the educational system and therefore demands a qualified and trained workforce.

Suvakov recalled that the reform programme’s first stage, supported by the EU with €13 million, is about to be completed. These funds are being used for secondary-school students and adult education.

According to him, in a contemporary society, education should be directed towards skills and creativity development, and young people should embrace innovations, take initiative, recognise opportunities and be ready to deal with problems.

The reform programme includes 50 secondary schools of five study areas –electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, agriculture and health, Suvakov said adding that five regional centres for adult education have also been founded.

The contemporary economy has raised a need for new syllabi and teaching plans which should adapt to the requirements of companies and the society. Therefore, the programme also focused on new syllabi and teaching plans for 20 job profiles requiring three or four-year secondary education, Suvakov concluded.

He said that another novelty in teaching plans is a different relation between theory and practice. The reforms envisage a 70:30 percent relation between theory and practice in three-year schools, and 60:40 ratio in four-year schools.

Suvakov recalled that €2 million was earmarked for the reconstruction of school buildings, and announced the second stage in education reforms in Serbia that will include teachers, social partners, the economy and other social factors.