The Department of Education is providing scholarships to primary and secondary school teachers to undertake an undergraduate or graduate degree. Teachers can apply for a scholarship of €7,000/year to improve their level of education. The Ministry of Education believes this will also improve the quality of teaching in the Netherlands.
One percent of Dutch primary schools have a status of “academic schools.” These schools have contracted with research departments to establish research activities in their schools which are cooperatively implemented by primary school teachers and researchers. The results of this research are expected to directly benefit the quality of teaching and learning in these schools, as the schools enrolled in the program share data with one another. The Department of Education sponsors these activities as a means to improve the quality of elementary education.
Since the 2006-2007 school year, students with a first language other than German have participated in language training courses at school. These courses have been offered to groups of more than eight (8) students for eleven (11) hours per week. For this purpose, the Government has provided 440 posts, equivalent to 9,500 hours of work and costing €23.9 million (approx. $30 million). Because evaluations have indicated the program’s positive impact, the Austrian government will invest a further €47.8 million (approx. $60 million) in the project up to 2014.
For the first time in 40 years, the Ministry of Education has released a white paper on strategies for developing lower secondary education in Norway. The aim is to enhance motivation and learning outcomes for all students. The strategy plan runs from school year 2012/13 through 2016/17.
The curricula for the following eight new electives will be ready in June:
– stage and performance
– media and information
– production of goods and services
– physical activity and health
– design and redesign
– practical research
– practical technology
– international cooperation
The initial results of the NUBEKK (Nationale Untersuchung zur Bildung, Betreuung und Erziehung in der frühen Kindheit) study funded by the Ministry for Families, the Jacobs Foundation, the Robert Bosch Foundation, and some federal states show that early childhood education is improvable in Germany. The study has explored 600 childcare facilities over two years. 2000 children and their parents have been observed in this period. In a quality test especially related to reading, math, science and intercultural learning, 80% of the childcare facilities only reached a score in the middle range. But results also show that mothers notice increased communication skills after early entrance into kindergarten. The complete research report will be published in Autumn 2012.
Posted in Government Reports, Newspaper Articles
The newly launched EdChat program “offers an informal way for small groups of students to gather in person or online, discuss British Columbia’s Education Plan and share their vision for the future of education. Participants work within the five themes of the plan: personalized learning for every student, quality teaching and learning, flexibility and choice, high standards and learning empowered by technology.” (Find EdChat’s “Face to Face Tool Kits” here.) When speaking with members of BC Student Voice, Minister of Education George Abbott said he hopes to hear from students because they “have the greatest stake in our education system and we want to hear from them about what we are doing well, what we can improve and what they would like to see done differently. By participating in EdChats or joining the discussion online, students have a chance to be actively involved in the decisions that affect their future.”
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology announced that the new guidelines for middle school will be effective this month. This follows the implementation of new guidelines at the elementary level last year. The new guidelines have four major aspects. First is to increase rigor in the curriculum. This will be promoted by the second aspect of the reform: to increase weekly instructional hours by 10% in language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, physical education and foreign languages. The third aspect of reform is to place emphasis on teaching basic knowledge and skills, improve the ability to apply them, and to increase student motivation. The last aspect is to promote collaboration between schools, homes, and communities.
The Ministry of Education announced plans for greater support for pre-school education. The support involves launching a consultancy scheme partnership to help pre-schools achieve accreditation through a quality assessment framework, a plan similar to a Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports consultancy scheme for operators of child care centers. Two other major initiatives include offering scholarships and bursaries for pre-school teachers and developing professional career pathways for pre-school teachers.
International Education News 