A new educational project related to "School Otherwise"

Improving school activities represents a challenge for authorities. The Ministry of Education has put forth for public consultation the project for the Methodology of organizing the National Program "School Otherwise." In order to develop competencies, it is recommended to use collaborative learning techniques, including project-based learning, methods of social change (living library, forum theater, newspaper theater), debates, artistic films, documentaries, and educational animation, online educational resources, transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary, or multidisciplinary approaches. According to the project: "During the National Program 'School Otherwise,' pre-university educational institutions can organize activities in collaboration with extracurricular activity units (children's palaces and clubs, school sports clubs, county centers of excellence). For the implementation of the planned activities, teachers, students, parents, and educational institution partners provide the necessary resources, with access to the school's infrastructure and logistics. Extrabudgetary resources can also be used in program implementation. Teachers ensure the supervision and safety of preschoolers/preschoolers/students during the activities, in accordance with the current legislation." As an exception, for vocational high school education and professional education, activities specified in the specialized curriculum may be organized during this period, following the purpose of the National Program "School Otherwise," as provided in Article 2 of this methodology. Additionally, as an exception, for post-secondary education during the dedicated week of the National Program "School Otherwise," practical training activities are organized. The project specifies that participation in the National Program "School Otherwise" is mandatory for both students and all teaching staff in the educational institution. In cases where, due to objective reasons, activities cannot be organized according to the schedule set for the "School Otherwise" program, other educational activities that contribute to the formation and development of competencies from the national curriculum are carried out. "Any movement outside the educational institution must have a pronounced educational character. Student travel for the entire program duration (5 days or more) and travel outside the locality incurring costs for which the educational institution has not identified sources of funding are not permitted," the project further states. For activities that incur costs for parents, the educational institution must offer free alternatives, as stated in the project. "The activities within the National Program 'School Otherwise' in which students enroll must total at least the number of hours they would have participated in during a regular school week," the project stipulates.

The assessment of the contribution of activities organized in the educational institution to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes targeted by the National Program "School Otherwise" is conducted as follows: students self-assess their involvement in the activities and reflect on their learning - in writing (questionnaire, written messages), through drawing or orally (group reflections, focus groups), guided by the primary school teacher/class teacher; teaching staff assess the knowledge, skills, and attitude changes of preschoolers/preschoolers/students through observation, both during the National Program "School Otherwise" and after its completion. Approved educational activities are recorded in the attendance register of teaching staff, student absences are recorded in the Conduct section of the school register, as mentioned in the project.