Njegoskij|org :: Montenegro puts Europe at the centre of its school curriculum

Where am I? :: Home | Today’s Montenegro | Articles and reviews | Montenegro puts Europe at the centre of its school curriculum

Montenegro | Education

Press release by the European Training Foundation (ETF), July 1st, 2008, Turin, Italy

See online: ETF :: European Training Foundation.

In the aftermath of the results of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the Montenegrin authorities are ensuring that all school children are introduced to the concept and workings of the European Union (EU) as part if their wider bid for EU integration.

On June 25, 2008, the State Council for General Education agreed proposals for the introduction of an EU curriculum within primary and secondary schools where children will be introduced the history, objectives and institutions of the European Union and particularly the advantages for the Montenegrin people to be part of the EU family. The education proposals were presented to the Council by Deputy Prime Minister Mrs. Gordana Đurović, responsible for Montenegro’s EU accession preparations and Mr. Ćazim Fetahović, Deputy Minister for Education. “We need to ensure that our young people fully understand the benefits of European integration and the importance of adopting the values of the European Union. And of course with this our young people also need to understand the commitments that this will entail for our education and wider governance system,” says Mr. Fetahović.

Speaking on the recent developments in education in Montenegro, Mr. Anthony Gribben, ETF’s country manager [1], points to Montenegro’s strategic steps to ensure that education plays its role in preparing the small Adriatic country for the challenge of EU integration. “The national authorities are making considerable efforts to ensure that the learning system can better meet the demands of an evolving economy. And lifelong learning promotion is key to that effort. But the EU dimension to the school curriculum represents an additional vector to the Government’s EU integration agenda,” he says. “This is an excellent initiative and builds on a wider communications initiative on education and EU integration by the education authorities supported by ETF,” continues Mr. Gribben.

Following the decision of the Council for General Education, the next step will be development of curriculum and teacher training. The education ministry foresees the introduction of the new curriculum in the 2009/2010 school year.

“Montenegro puts learning first”
—
Part I (6’35)

—
Part II (6’57)

European Training Foundation

[1] The European Training Foundation (ETF) is an agency of the European Union based in Turin, Italy. It was established by Council Regulation n° 1360 in 1990 to contribute to the development of the education and training systems of the EU partner countries. It became operational in 1994 with the appointment of its first director Mr. Peter de Rooij, and the start of the activities in its premises of Villa Gualino. The ETF currently employs approximately 100 staff and has an annual budget of about 18 million €. Mrs. Muriel Dunbar is Director of the ETF since July 1st, 2004.
The ETF’s work in Montenegro in 2007 has produced tangible results that have moved the country further along the road to EU membership.
High among these 2007 achievements is the ETF’s contribution to the publication of a national employment strategy and a white paper on human resources development. The ETF also helped develop the strategy for a national qualification framework that enabled Montenegro to access €1.5m in IPA funds from the European Commission. The money will allow the government to buy in foreign expertise to support the reform process.
In 2008, the ETF’s main priority in Montenegro is to establish a mid-term development plan for EU support in partnership with the government and social partners. The plan will target Montenegro’s specific issues in employment and human resources as part of the country’s wider preparations for joining the EU.
The ETF is also promoting debate and commitment to the goals of the EU’s Education and Training 2010 agenda through a series of workshops with key stakeholders. It is offering expert advice to the government on benchmarking and regional cooperation within the framework of the European Charter for SMEs.

Copyright © European Training Foundation 2008.
With special thanks to Mr. Anthony Gribben, Country Manager, European Training Foundation, Operations Department, Turin, Italy.
Video credit: © European Training Foundation/Ministry of Education and Science of Montenegro 2008.