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Ainius Lašas, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), says that the success indicators established in the Government program, which will be implemented in 2024, are quite narrow, bureaucratic and have little in common with the objectives. The education expert also lacks at least preliminary financial calculations in the program, without which, according to him, it is difficult to assess the reality of the initiatives.
Meanwhile, Professor Vilija Targamadzė, a member of the Seimas belonging to the faction of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), affirms that the fundamental problem is that there is no clear correlation in the Government program between the established objectives, the instruments for their implementation and success indicators. For this reason, an opposition education expert believes that those in charge of the educational part of the government’s program must carefully re-review and refine a clear strategy on what measures will be taken to achieve the established goals.
The issue of financial resources is worrying
A. Lašas, Dean of the KTU Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, says that the Government’s program reflects many fundamental problems in the field of education.
“The new coalition is to be commended for its comprehensive and very ambitious approach, which provides space for all levels of education. I just have a haircut when I think about the financial resources that should be focused on its solution,” said A. Lašas to Eltai.
Although the education expert emphasizes that the initiatives proposed in the government’s program are broadly aligned with the issues identified, according to him, it is not always clear who is behind these initiatives.
“For example, the idea of founding the Millennium gyms sounds intriguing, but it’s still pretty abstract. On what basis will Millennium Gymnasiums be selected or created? Where do human resources come from? What does this mean for other less privileged schools and their staff? Will those new gyms be open to everyone who wants to study there or will there be some kind of admissions competition? “TO. Lašas reflected.
“The questions can continue, but there are still no answers. That is why it is difficult to fully assess whether these instruments are adequate, because they are not yet detailed enough,” he added.
Drop of Ainius
Meanwhile, when evaluating the indicators of success established by the new Government, A. Lašas draws attention to, according to him, the welcome division of indicators into two groups: indicators until the end of the current mandate of the Seimas and until 2030. However In this differentiation of indicators, the expert sees an emerging problem.
“In principle, this is a welcome differentiation of indicators between the short and medium-term perspectives, but the problem is that the medium-term perspective, in addition to the current and medium, includes the mandate of the Seimas. If we consider that until Now the cycle of electoral change of position-opposition has practically always operated in Lithuania, it is likely that the opposition will come to power for another term of the Seimas. This will inevitably bring a different perspective to the educational policy and the proposed goals and indicators of its compliance, “he said.
However, according to A. Lašas, it is the medium-term indicators that reflect the fruits of the work of the new government in a much more clear and detailed way, and the short-term indicators, according to him, are quite narrow and bureaucratic and have little to do with key objectives.
“For example, I don’t find anything among those indicators about the content of education, the implementation of technology in schools, the in-service training system for teachers, teacher training centers and many other initiatives. On the other hand, a criterion of this type is introduced, which in my opinion is strange, as an occupation according to the level of qualification and field, ”said the education expert.
“I still understand the level, but in the modern world, expecting practically all graduates to work in the field in which they graduated generates a skeptical smile. By the way, a philosophy graduate student, what job should he get to match his field of study? He was also surprised.
According to A. Lašas, although the individual indicators of the Government program are truly ambitious, their totality is far from reflecting the ambitions of the entire program.
“I am more concerned not by one indicator or another, but by the human and financial resources necessary to implement such a program,” he said.
The education expert emphasizes that the document prepared by the Government lacks the most detailed and at least preliminary financial calculations, because only in this way can the proposed initiatives and their reality be properly evaluated.
“For example, in this show, I find nothing about the problem of the overlap of gymnasiums and basic schools, when the most talented and motivated children go from basic schools to gymnasiums and then basic schools fall into the hole. Maybe those Millennium gyms solve this challenge in some way, but so far they don’t see it, “said A. Lašas.
He also said that he did not include the topic of the network of universities and colleges in the government’s program.
“We are talking about at least one university in the top 300 in the world ranking, but it also means reviewing state allocations to universities, because with current budgets, such targets will not be achieved,” said A. Lašas.
“There are still many questions, but what worries me most is the issue of financial resources, because this government program is very ambitious both in its goals and in the resources it needs,” he shared his reflections.
There is no correlation between objectives, instruments and success rates
For his part, Deputy Seimas V. Targamadze affirms that the first reading of the Government’s program gives the impression that the document is solid, it emphasizes the most important aspects in the field of education.
“When you start to read and at least make a structural review of the government program, it gives the impression of a really serious strategic document. Because the situation is pointed out, such important things as emphasis are emphasized, for example, initial education, general education, teacher training, children with special needs, adult education, higher education, etc. ”V. Targamadze told Eltai.
However, according to the politician, a more detailed analysis of the government’s program reveals a lack of clarity in the document, as well as in the adequate instruments to implement the stated ambitions.
“For example, it is very good that there is a focus on third century universities. The program says: “We will introduce senior development baskets that all people of retirement and early retirement age can use to improve or improve their qualifications.” And what are those success rates? Will everyone really prepare those baskets? That should at least be said, ”he said.
V. Targamadze also points out that the program ignores the issue of public and private schools, and also questions the goal of establishing Millennium schools. While, according to the politician, the idea of reducing the educational gap between regions and cities is good, it raises the question of whether ordinary schools will not be forgotten.
“Not all the children of the districts and cities will go to that Millennium Gymnasium. Yes, they can be like centers of excellence and the like, but the question is whether exclusion will increase, because then the greatest forces will be concentrated in the millennium schools, And how will it be with other schools? ”asked V. Targamadze, emphasizing that these establishing schools can increase social exclusion.
“Is it not the case that we declare one and realize the other? Here a great balance is needed. It is like a good idea, but it will depend a lot on its realization. Here, the plan of measures must be analyzed very well later ”, he added.
The Seimas member also draws attention to the indicators of success established in the Government’s program in the field of education, which is expected to be reached in 2024. V. Targamadze wonders why the document mentions only four indicators of success. He also stressed that the document should establish not only quantitative but also qualitative success criteria against which to measure program execution at the end of the period.
“Quality is not only measured by quantitative indicators, and generally when it comes to quality we want clarity and understanding that there are different contributions to quality, but then we need to define how we understand quality. Because it seems to me that quality is too repetitive as some mantra: quality of education, quality of higher education and studies, etc. ”, Said V. Targamadze, emphasizing that all the concepts in the Government program must be correctly defined.
According to the member of Seimas, the main problem is that the government program does not have a clear correlation between the goals set, the instruments for their implementation and the established indicators of success.
“The objectives, the instruments to achieve and the success rates must be closely related. I, for my part, really do not see that strong correlation. The indicators of success do not include what you want to do,” said V. Targamadze.
“The question is how we will measure that result. After all, you must think about the goal and outcome paradigm. It is in this paradigm of vision and not clear enough. And it is problematic, ”he emphasized.
V. Targamadze emphasizes that there are more doubtful aspects in the program, so the politician believes that those who manage the educational part of the government program should once again review thoroughly and refine a clear strategy on how to achieve the established goals.
“The program needs to be combed (…) so that the goals, tools and indicators of success are correlated so that we can really invest money and create an educational system, put together very good action plans, signals where we should move and stay the course. Because now, for example, I don’t see a clear strategy to build that navigation system, “he said.
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