Mr. Dejan Ciric is member of the European
Movement |
Problems in teaching history in SEEC Glance from my angle
Present me your statements on history and I will tell you who you are and where you come from. This short, but very clear, sentence has importance and multi-stratum significance, not only for countries in the South Eastern Europe, but in all regions in the Old World. Teaching/learning history in the South Eastern Europe, particularly in the Western Balkan, is much more issue of the great social and political changes and, of course, new circumstances in relation between new states, than issue of teacher’s will and ability to make new roads in their work. Almost in all countries in the region, Ministry of Education has main role in prescription curricula, but teacher, students, parents and local community, in best case, are very weak consultants and no formal groups with small, ore not of any kind, influence. For a very long time there was only one handbook for history for every school class, but in lust few years some of states and organizations in the region made small steps forward. For example, in Croatia there are alternative handbooks, in Serbia, the Society for Social History, besides many books for scientists, published additional teaching/learning materials through the very useful and good illustrated book: Childhood in the Past 19th and 20th Century. The Center for Balkan Studies and Specializations in Blagoevgrad-Bulgaria also published, as result of cooperation with Belgrade and Graz and continuation of project, similar materials titled as Man and Woman in the past 19th and 20th Century. Both of books had financed by Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These volumes are part of project realized in the frame of Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and available in all Balkan’s languages except Greek. The shortage of necessary teaching/learning equipment (projector for photos, VCR, maps, books, etc) is problem for lot of schools. Very large number of teacher hasn’t opportunity for additional education, improvement, acquisition of new literature and journals and participation in the seminars and college’s meetings, but those who are active in NGO ore in some scientific associations are in much better situation. The main problem, for my opinion, is lack of money and small interest. They need more freedom in the work, more encourages and personal contacts with government officials, international organizations and experts from universities and scientific institutes.
My vision on further methodology I think that methodology in teaching history is much more sense for student’s needs and creativity for changing your self through the education process, than acceptance of good and justified practice from the manuals and didactic studies. For that reason I want to recommend (for the beginning) three sentences for open discussion which is fare from unchangeable principals and rules. It is only short and simple thoughts on the subject.
Dejan Cric |