Why state-administered matura?
Analyses of the Serbian education system carried out in recent years have brought ample evidence of the need to improve the quality of education. The existing practice of matura exams is not standardized: instead on the state level, matura is implemented on school level, hence there are significant differences in terms of its content, procedures and assessment criteria. The assessment process is subjective while higher education institutions complain about the low level of knowledge and literacy of students.
The introduction of the new final examination system at the end of the three-year secondary education and the state matura at the end of the four-year secondary education should resolve the existing problems and establish a coherent system linking educational goals, education standards, various forms of assessment and evaluation, teacher training and professional development, teacher appraisal and external evaluation of schools. The standardized matura on the entire level of Serbia will enable the evaluation of the quality of education to become objective and the foundation for the further advancement of the educational system. Тhe Concept of final exams in secondary education was adopted in March 2017. The implementation of the solutions envisioned by the Concept is demanding, but a vital task for Serbian education.
What is the role of the Project?
The State Matura Project should support the MoESTD for system preparation for the implementation of state-administered matura at the end of secondary education.
Financial support provided by the European Union has enabled engagement of international and local experts who will work on the development of various aspects of state matura within the next years.
The Project activities are divided into three segments (three components of the Project).
Through the component 1, the organisational model for setting up the system of final examinations and state matura will be identified and institutional and legal frameworks will be harmonized through the preparation of the book of rules that will define details related to final exams. Based on the training needs analysis, support will be provided for strengthening the capacities of employees in educational institutions and establishing work groups that will prepare tasks for matura and final examinations. The next important step is the development and delivery of final examination instruments, manuals and materials related to the content, followed by piloting the final examinations in selected pilot schools. At the same time, it has been planned to strengthen the capacities and professional competence of the Institute for Evaluating the Quality of Education and the Institute for the Improvement of Education, which will carry a great burden of the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the entire process.
Component 2 covers the preparation of higher education institutions for a new way for enrolling and will encompass, among others: regular consultations with higher education institutions (HEIs) to support consensus-building concerning state matura, support HEIs in defining the enrolment criteria, and training on managing the revised enrolment procedures.
Component 3 is dedicated to enabling the general public to become more aware of the planned activities in a timely manner so as to better understand the importance of introducing state matura into secondary education and its importance to the society. The State Matura Help Desk will be established and the Project portal will be launched.
The Project began operating in January 2019 and
will continue, as planned, through December 2021.