[ad_1]
The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) proposed to the parties drafting the agreement “to include a commitment to review the regulation of state and non-state educational institutions (including financial ones) in all segments of education, from pre-school education to higher education. “.
“Private educational institutions must be financed in the same way as state (municipal) institutions, applying the same quality requirements and not allowing additional tuition fees to be charged. Selection of children for schools must also be restricted, ”LSDP wrote in their proposal.
Schools must not be for profit
Vilija Targamadze, a member of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party faction, confirmed that the Social Democrats’ proposal did not fail in the final agreement between the parties. With its proposal for private schools, the party tried to turn them into more than just for-profit institutions.
“Our argument was that non-state schools should be non-profit. We are not against private schools, they play a good role. For example, there are some more exclusive educational systems, others provide services for children with special educational needs. There really is no need to demonize private schools.
But some schools make big profits and so are the high fees charged for tuition at those schools. These should be non-profit institutions, “said V. Targamadze.
However, representatives of other parties, according to V. Targamadze, had a different opinion.
“One of the arguments was that this discrimination against private schools will be. There were other sayings, and why can’t people who have money go to private schools and pay for them if they want to, ”said V. Targamadze.
According to the Seimas member, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party faction will meet on Wednesday to discuss whether the party will support the agreement on education.
“Tomorrow we will talk, there will be a meeting of the faction and the board. And finally we will decide. Because some of our proposals have not been taken into account,” added V. Targamadze.
The agreement will be signed in September.
According to Artūras Žukauskas, chairman of the Education and Science Committee of the Seimas, the Social Democrats’ proposals on private schools were not included in the final text of the agreement because not all parties supported it.
“They have a proposal to regulate private schools. But here is the national agreement, we include the provisions we agree on. Other more liberal parties did not support such strict regulation. And now there is regulation, they receive less funds, etc. For there is no consensus ”, said A. Žukauskas.
According to the committee chairman, the agreement has already been completed, but the party is discussing the document internally.
“It is expected to sign somewhere in the first days of September [galutinį susitarimą]. Although the Social Democrats, I do not know. It would be good if all the political forces signed. There are many who contribute, taking into account other comments. I would sign them instead, “said A. Žukauskas.
The objective is to guarantee equal opportunities
The agreement document seen by the BNS stipulates that equal opportunities for education and higher education must be guaranteed for all, regardless of gender, race, religion, place of residence, social status, etc., and that educators must be able to create civic, critical people, as well as ensure their adequate remuneration, a sustainable recycling system, etc.
The commitment is assumed to consult with the community in decision-making, to concentrate state resources in priority research areas. Agreements on the right to lifelong learning, education based on digitization, and sustainable educational and cultural interaction are included.
Among the specific agreements, by 2024 it is planned to implement an evaluation system for preschool education programs and institutions, to create a common quality standard of general education accessible to rural and urban children, as well as to test and implement measures of education in at least five different types of municipalities and their schools – A. Žukauskas The BNS has confirmed that these are the so-called millennium schools.
Give more power to self-government
It is also expected to present two alternatives for the final decision of the political parties on the decentralization of educational functions, granting the municipalities greater autonomy and responsibility.
In one case, it is planned to establish that municipalities could be more independent in the use of educational funds, deciding on the efficiency of the network of institutions and being responsible for educational results. The second option provides for a more cautious wording in order to grant autonomy to municipalities “at the level at which decisions are made and implemented most effectively.”
More opportunities for kindergarteners and teachers
Among other agreements, a program of initiatives to integrate cultural and artistic measures in the educational process, the implementation of a Cultural Passport in preschool and professional training and the strengthening of its services, the inclusion of information technology literacy in the preschool education, expanding the non-formal education basket and making it available to children from 3 years of age, with special emphasis on children from families at social risk.
In order to make the pedagogical profession attractive, it is envisaged to create the most favorable conditions possible for representatives of other professions to retrain and work as teachers, to finance the possibility for working teachers to acquire additional pedagogical qualifications and to create the more favorable conditions. as possible for other professions to retrain and work as teachers.
It would also be a commitment to change the procedure for the appointment of directors of educational institutions by 2024, that is, to waive the obligation to have the qualification of teacher, but to establish a period within which this qualification could be acquired by a director.
Among other things, the draft agreement stipulates that by 2027 the career stages of teachers would be linked to the requirement of higher education degrees, that is, a bachelor’s degree would be enough for a teacher, a master’s degree for a senior teacher, a Master of Education. for a methodologist and a doctorate for an expert teacher.
Science is accessible to everyone
Starting in 2024, the goal would also be to introduce uniform minimum entry requirements for all participants, whether paid or publicly funded, and to introduce “universally accessible” undergraduate studies open to all well-educated students who meet the outcomes. established general education schoolchildren.
There would also be a commitment to review the funding model for the studies so that it better responds to the “needs of society and the market”.
The agreement also aims to include plans to develop and implement a system of lifelong learning vouchers, that is, some financial support for the learning of a “large part of the public”, the funds could be used to acquire skills, improve, learn foreign languages, etc.
Higher salaries, area financing
The agreement’s “success rates” are also expected, with the goal of increasing the amount of money per pupil per student by 2030 by 2030.
According to the agreement under consideration, teachers’ salaries should reach 130% by the end of 2024. average salary, salaries of teachers and researchers, not less than 150 percent. working salary. By the way, this is also foreseen in the Government’s program and the agreements with the educational community.
It is also planned to confirm the target of 70% of kindergartens to attend kindergartens by 2027. Children 2-5 years in rural areas, 35 percent. the number of graduates from the secondary education program would acquire a vocational training qualification, as well as the number of eighth-grade students from families with a low social, economic and cultural level would study at an institution of higher education, and at least 70 % would complete their studies. participants. 0.75% would go to basic applied research and experimental development (R&D). GDP.
There would also be a commitment to create physical and virtual labs for teaching science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) in all schools by 2030, and by 2027 Internet speeds in schools to reach at least 300 mb / s .
[ad_2]
