The disappointing results of the international surveys (PISA, TIMSS) have not, however, remained just a “dead letter”. The evidence of this is the commitment of ministries and institutions, in this case the countries in which classes are conducted in Croatian language, to creating prerequisites for improving student achievement. The first step towards change is the improvement of the existing curricula in primary and secondary schools, thanks to which the outdated curricula and teaching methods will be abandoned.
On the basis of the Common Core Curricula and Programs Defined by Learning Outcomes developed by the Agency, the ministries of education of four cantons developed new subject curricula, the implementation of which, after teaching training, has begun in primary and secondary schools. In this way, the four cantons in which classes are conducted in Croatian language, together with municipalities of Usora and Žepče, joined the efforts of the colleagues from the Zenica-Doboj Canton and the Sarajevo Canton in creating prerequisites for student achievement.
The reform which started with the creation of the Common Core Curricula defined on the learning outcomes came to life with the implementation of the subject curricula in the first and sixth and, sometimes second grades of nine-year primary education and in the first, and sometimes second grades of high school, thus continuing last year’s reform started in the pilot schools in Livno. Three schools from the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton were also involved in the piloting.
We hope that the positive examples of the implementation of the Common Core Curricula defined on the basis of learning outcomes will be followed by the other competent authorities.
