Report on findings of Survey on Communicating Education Situation Prepared by: SEE ECN

Objectives : a.to obtain information about public support to the education reform in respective country, b.to obtain information communication effectiveness and capacity, and c.to learn something about Stakeholders’ habits and existing media market.

Questionnaires were completed by: ALBANIA: Center for democratic education BOSNIA-HERZEGOVIVA: Open Society Foundation BiH BULGARIA: National Institute of Education CROATIA Centre for Educational Research and Development KOSOVO: Kosovo Education Center MOLDOVA: Institute for Public Policy MONTENEGRO: School Inspectorate ROMANIA: Institute for Educational Science SERBIA: Education Forum

Are you aware of any research done in your country showing public opinion about education reform? No: (6) Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia Yes: (3) Montenegro, Kosovo, Moldova

Have *communications* of the reform aims, achievements and problems played an important role in creation of public perception about the reform? No: (2) Albania, Serbia In between: (4) Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania Yes: (3) Bulgaria, Kosovo, Moldova

Has education reform communication been successful so far? No: (5) Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia In between: (3) Bulgaria, Montenegro, Romania Yes: (1) Moldova

Was the reform explained well to parents? No: (7) Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia In between: (1) Montenegro Yes: (1) Bulgaria

Do the teachers understand it? No: (4) Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia In between: (4) Bulgaria, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania Yes: (1) Kosovo

Was it explained in plain, understandable language? No: (4) Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia In between: (3) Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania Yes: (2) Albania, Montenegro

What are the weaknesses of that communication? Public campaign does not provide different sorts of information to different groups in the audience, for example parents, teachers, students. There is confusion and lack of understanding of the substantial issues and concepts in the reform. Very often public focuses on only one aspect of education reform, while the key themes such as framework curriculum, evaluation, etc. are not recognizable at all in media coverage. Lack of specialized TV or radio shows and newspaper supplements which cover educational reform. Insufficient level of news reporters’ understanding of education reform

Does the Ministry of Education have a professional communicator? No: (4) Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia Yes: (5) Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Romania  Public relations person or officer; Head of information division; Advisor in the communication department; etc.

How difficult/easy is it to obtain information from a Ministry? How difficult/easy is it to obtain information from a Ministry? (1 – very difficult, 5 – very easy) For a Citizen: For a Journalist: For a Researcher: Average: Albania2332,66 Bosnia-Herzeg.1221,66 Bulgaria4444,00 Croatia3443,66 Kosovo2332,66 Moldova1211,33 Montenegro2343,00 Romania1422,33 Serbia1322,00 Average1,93,12,72,6

Does MoE have websites? No: (4) Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova Yes: (5) Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia

Do education NGOs in your country have Effective Communications? No: (3) Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro In between: (1) Albania Yes: (5) Bulgaria, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia Do NGOs in your country in general have a communicator – PR person? No: (5) Albania, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro Yes: (4) Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Serbia

How difficult/easy is it to obtain information from an NGO? How difficult/easy is it to obtain information from an NGO? (1 – very difficult, 5 – very easy) For a Citizen: For a Journalist: For a Researcher: Average NGO: MoE: Albania3443,662,66 Bosnia-Her.4444,001,66 Bulgaria4444,00 Croatia3443,66 Kosovo4544,332,66 Moldova5534,331,33 Montenegro1432,663,00 Romania4444,002,33 Serbia4554,662,00 Average3,64,33,9 2,6

Rank the sources of information that influence the opinion of main education change stakeholders by their importance Rank the sources of information that influence the opinion of main education change stakeholders by their importance (1 - most important to 5 - least important)? Mainstream Media “Trade press” ConferencesVisitsOther Albania13245 Bosnia-Her Bulgaria32145 Croatia45123 Kosovo13245 Moldova43125 Montenegro14235 Romania24135 Serbia12345 Average2,003,331,673,225,78

To what extent do the media have solid understanding of the issues surrounding the education reform? Unsatisfactory: (0) Weak: (7) Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia Average: (2) Moldova, Romania Good: (0) Outstanding: (0)

To what extent do the specialized educational media have solid understanding of the issues surrounding the education reform? Unsatisfactory: (1) Croatia Weak: (2) Kosovo, Romania Average: (3) Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova Good: (2) Bulgaria, Montenegro Outstanding: (0)

To what extent are the reporters experienced on covering educational issues? Unsatisfactory: (1) Bosnia-Herzegovina Weak: (5) Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia Average: (2) Bulgaria, Croatia, Good: (1) Montenegro Outstanding: (0)