Public Discussion of the Education Quality Inspection Framework (BG0092)

What is the public problem being addressed by the measure? Over the past decade, the OECD has reviewed assessment frameworks in over 30 education systems to identify factors associated with improving the quality of education across countries. As a result of the evaluation for Bulgaria, the experts recommend ways in which the country can strengthen its evaluation framework in the field of education, in particular to facilitate the coherent presentation of the goals of the reform in secondary education, to ensure better feedback, to identify how policy initiatives perform in different settings, and to enable a more prudent use of resources. Assessing the quality of preschool and school education is a new process in the secondary education system (as of 2019), it is not yet well known to civil society, which is why citizens do not take an active part in both the process of discussion and adoption of criteria and indicators, as well as in activities to improve the quality of the inspection process (such as constant feedback). A significant part of the general public and participants in the educational process continues to believe that school quality is evidenced by students' results in national examinations, which are often determined by factors beyond the school's control. Bulgaria needs to gradually socialize a more modern and comprehensive understanding of school 54 quality to ensure that key stakeholders will engage with the work of the NIE and embrace national education reforms.

What does the measure consist of? Organization by the NIE of an open public discussion in a combined format (attendance and online) of a forum with representatives of the professional community, of the scientific circles, with previously prepared proposals by the NIE for a Framework for Inspecting the Quality of Education; presentation of criteria and indicators that are used in the process of preparing a complete independent expert assessment of the quality of the education provided by the kindergarten or school. Creation of a platform - an open forum with discussions for constant feedback between the NIE and the nationally represented parent and non-governmental organizations, regarding the conduct and results of the assessment of the quality of the education provided by the kindergarten or school through the annual inspection process.

How will the implementation of the measure contribute to solving the problem? The NIE will work to build a common understanding of the quality of schools, to create a framework for evaluating schools related to common educational goals, with consensus criteria and indicators. This will improve objectivity and activate citizen participation in the assessment of the quality of preschool and school education. The platform for constant feedback and discussions with nationally represented parent and non-governmental organizations will increase the quality of the inspection process, promote the activity of the NIE and familiarize all participants in the process (teachers, parents and students) with the entire inspection process. Increased transparency in the implementation of the activity of the NIE, regarding the toolkit that is used in the inspection process. Involvement of a greater number of stakeholders. Identifying and correcting weaknesses in the inspection process. The measure stimulates the active involvement of representatives of parents and non-governmental organizations in the inspection process and guarantees the promotion of the activities of the NIE.

How does the measure relate to the values of the initiative? The measure will work to activate citizen participation and achieve more transparency in the processes of evaluating the quality of school education

More information (including budget for implementation of the measure) Indicative budget for the implementation of the measure -: 15870 Description of costs 1. One forum - Conference conference: 2. Study "Satisfaction of Parents and Students" 1 study BGN 9,000

Activities for and measurable results of the implementation of the measure: Starting date Date of completion of activity: Conference on Validation of Criteria and Indicators and Adoption of Inspection Framework. Presentation of survey results Result: Criteria and indicators for quality assessment discussed and validated by representatives of the professional community and the scientific community. Current Inspection Framework 01.06.2023 Establishing joint working groups to update criteria, indicators and tools 30.11.2023 Survey of satisfaction of parents and students from the conducted quality assessment (inspection) Result: Surveyed satisfaction degree from the inspection process, results and quality 15.01.2023 30.09.2023

Action Plan Review

Commitment 14. Forums for Public Discussion of the Education Quality Inspection Framework

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? Yes

● Potential for results: Modest