ZAGREB, February 8, 2019 – The GOOD NGO on Friday warned that students partaking in the “School for Life” programme will not receive a quality Civic Education but rather a reduced version of an already inadequate programme that has been taught in schools for the past four years as a compulsory subject.
“Even though over the past few days we could read in the media about the introduction of Civic Education in schools and the big changes it will bring, this curriculum has shortcomings, is poorly elaborated and insufficient for the development of civic competencies in students. As until now, it will be taught as part of other subjects, which will not ensure its quality,” the NGO said.
It further assessed that the new curriculum adopted last week by the Ministry of Science and Education was yet another step backward.
The new curriculum appears to be more like a draft version. Even though it defines what Civic Education should be, the actual curriculum isn’t consistent with that and it looks more like a wish list, GOOD said.
“Instead of the announced revolution in education, this curriculum, which has been carved for three years, is mostly conservative with regard to the concept of the citizen and provides a very narrow and wrong understanding of citizens in a democracy,” GOOD said.
Student won’t gain the relevant knowledge or skills nor develop values and attitudes required to participate in a contemporary, democratic society and it is in fact just the opposite of the declared desired results of “reforms”, to prepare young people for the challenges of the 21st century, the NGO said.
GOOD underscored that a better, more just and advanced society requires an education system that produces empowered and emancipated citizens capable of constructive changes in society based on solidarity, which, it said, is something the new curriculum won’t provide.
More news on the education system in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.
