Examination reform in Lithuania: background, strategies and achievements

Collection:
Sklaidos publikacijos / Dissemination publications
Document Type:
Knyga / Book
Language:
Anglų kalba / English
Title:
Examination reform in Lithuania: background, strategies and achievements
Authors:
Publication Data:
Vilnius : National Examination Centre, 2000.
Pages:
80 p
Contents:
Introduction — Lithuania in brief — Education in Lithuania — Assessment, Examinations and Certificates — Matura Examinations in Lithuania: A Short History — The HERIL Programme and the Place of National Assessment — Assessment Reform and the Curriculum — Strategy for Examination Development — Examination purposes — Gaining University Support for Examination Reform — Pilot Exercise and its Consequences — Pre-testing and Expert Judgement in Test Production — State Examinations in Mathematics and History — Marking and the Involvement of Teachers — Grading Matura Examinations — Reporting Back to School and System — NEC as a Focal Point for Assessment Activities — Final Conference and Legacy for the Future — Reviewand Observations — Concluding Remarks – Appendices: A. Landmarks in the Development of School Examinations and Diagnostic Testing in Lithuanian General Education; B. Profile: National Examination Centre, Lithuania; C. Profile: HERIL National Assessment Sub-Programme.
Subject Category:
LT
Mokykla / School; Švietimas. Švietimo politika / Education. Education policy.
Summary / Abstract:

ENSince its independence in 1990, Lithuania has been a country in transition. In particular, it has been moving towards greater integration within the European community. A key element in this has been a commitment to educational reform with the emphasis on improving the quality of education for young Lithuanians so that they, and the country, are better prepared to meet the increased competition that a broad, European market brings. Reform of the curriculum and teaching methods began almost immediately after independence. These were natural starting points. However, it soon became apparent that assessment would also need attention since it forms an integral part of the teaching/ learning process. A system was needed which would be comparable with those used elsewhere in Europe. This required a more rigorous approach to the assessment of student achievement and the measurement of educational standards. The Lithuanian National Examinations Centre (NEC) is a young institution. Established in 1997, it developed a new system of State secondary school leaving (Matura*) examinations and ran them for the first time in 1999. This remarkable achievement was supported by the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MES) and by the European Union's Phare programme for Higher Education Reform in Lithuania (HERIL).This case study is not intended to be a formal, technical report - but rather to tell the story of NEC's growth, its work under the HERIL programme, and some of the lessons learnt along the way. In particular, it attempts to identify the factors that contributed to the success enjoyed by NEC and its partners. We hope that the study will prove of interest, and perhaps of some value, to those working to reform educational assessment systems in Europe and beyond. The authors wish to thank Sabine Seaman (EU Delegation, Lithuania) for supporting the idea of recording, in this way, the experiences of those involved in the Programme, and Simon Peters (HERIL Programme Manager) for his considerable help in making it a reality.

ISBN:
998696119X
Subject:
Edukologija / Education
Permalink:
https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/108701
Updated:
2024-11-29 20:43:10
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