2024-07-20 01:34:38
Headteachers to provide additional administrative and management capacity within the school network. This is an idea for a new national program of the Ministry of Education and Culture, which was discussed at a meeting between the Minister of Education and Science Prof. Galin Tsokov and representatives of Regional Departments of Education. The goal is for experienced and successful school principals to support newly appointed and young colleagues with their experience and leadership skills, as well as those who need additional professional support. At the moment, there is only an idea concept, and after the development and adoption of a similar national program, it will finance the activities of mentoring directors.
“In the last year, we have held competitions for the appointment of school principals under completely new rules to screen out not just good administrators, but real educational leaders. This is very important for the overall change of the system,” emphasized Minister Tsokov. During the meeting, the experience gained from past competitions was commented on, as well as the launch of new procedures for schools that have been without a headmaster for years or the director has reached retirement age. ” We know this is a major problem for the system, but we wanted to wait as long as possible for the parliamentary elections to be over. At the same time, we cannot allow people with many years of experience who have done so much for their schools to be lost to the system,” he added. the minister.
In this regard, the Ministry of Education and Culture is discussing a new project of a national program – “Directors – Mentors”. Beneficiaries under it are planned to be the regional administrations of education, which will present a program for the work of the principals – mentors. They will be appointed at the discretion of the relevant RUO in dialogue with employer organizations and social partners.
“Directors-mentors will be able to be heads of schools with proven experience and achievements who, at the time of the program’s implementation, do not hold the position of director,” said Nataliya Michalevska, head of the office of the Minister of Education and Science. According to her, part of the discussion is underway from their activity to be individual and group mentoring, continuous monitoring of the processes in the schools, organization of forums, trainings and trainings, preparation of materials, master classes, etc. Their work in the schools will be aimed at both the newly appointed directors and the pedagogical ones specialists, students, parents and institutions.
“The principals-mentors will also support the methodological and supporting functions of the RUO, as they can be included in commissions by order of the head of the relevant regional administration for the implementation of specific tasks in one or several schools,” explained Nataliya Michalevska. It is planned in the long term a plan to create teams of principals-mentors to provide methodical assistance in specific situations and for methodical support in managing the school network, it became clear from her words.The provision of opportunities for joint working formats of principals will also be discussed – mentors from different regions to solve similar challenges and topics.