Lithuanian Education Quality Management: System of School Internal and External Audits Ričardas Ališauskas Head of Education Development Division of the Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania BucharestMay 6, 2004

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits2 Linking Policies and Actions to Outcomes Teaching and Learning Conditions Education Quality Management System Rehabilitation of School Buildings School Network Optimisation

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits3 Non-reflective business cycle Implementation (Actions) Planning (Development of schedule of actions)

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits4 Random vs. reflective learning Random learning Project Reflect Draw conclusions Find more effective way Plan Reflective learning

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits5 Reflective quality management cycle Implementation Planning Monitoring Analysis Finding strengths and weaknesses Actions towards goals Monitoring of progress and success Setting goals and measures

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits6 Quality management system Implementation Planning Monitoring Analysis National level Regional level School level Implementation Planning Monitoring Analysis Implementation Planning Monitoring Analysis

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits7 Investments into Education Quality Management System Information needs of managers satisfied Performance standards of schools raised Data on Quality and Equality of schools Policy options and monitoring of progress

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits8 Challenges of the Project Philosophy: Changing the Culture From administration to quality management need for attitudes in order to work well and seek quality From compliance to school improvement trust people – improve processes dissemination of the best practice From quality as an instruction to the agreement need to involve school community need to follow-up national & regional policy need of expectation-oriented and preventive thinking From opinion to data based decision making need of indicators, standards, evidences, evaluation

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits9 Basic Questions Do we want to work well? What does quality mean? What are we going to do now? How do we know? How are we doing? Attitudes Agreement Reflection Evidences Improvement

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits10 Schools Internal Audit Structure Curriculum, Attainment, Learning & Teaching, Support for Pupils, Ethos, Resources, Management & Quality Assurance 32 indicators 1-5 criteria per indicator Levels of performance Illustrations for levels (at least 4 & 2) © Internal Audit Methodology, 2002

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits11 Schools Internal Audit Process 1. Preparation (learning & planning) 2. Taking a broad view across all 7 key areas Strengths & Weaknesses based on intuition 3. Taking a closer look at 7 key areas per 3 years: identifying appropriate evidences (illustration) selecting data sources & methodology of collection creating instruments & collection of data data analysis & summary of findings 4. Presentation of audit findings 5. Planning of school improvement Reflection Evidences Improvement Agreement

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits12 Schools Improvement External Audit Trust people – improve processes  The concept of 10-5 (or 3-2) audit (finding 10 strengths & suggesting 5 targets for improvement)  Recognition of social, educational and economic context of the school itself ( has the EA helped to this school to improve education of these children?) Adequate to the Internal Audit  Same philosophy, indicators & criteria  Based on Internal Audit reports Accountability  Publishing short External Audit reports  Providing data for national & regional monitoring

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits13 Implementation of Internal Audit Pilot: Looking for models (study visits & seminars for experts) Pilot in 6 schools, drafting Methodology with Consultant Pilot in 28 schools, approval of Methodology Dissemination: Publishing Methodology Training of 73 trainers 3 day seminar for every school principle 2 day seminars in every school, 1 day consultations dissemination of good practice (publications, conferences)

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits14 Implementation of External Audit Pilot: Selection of Consultant, discussions Drafting Methodology & Code of Practice Selecting 8 municipalities to pilot Methodology Training of 18 chief auditors, 4 pilot external audits Dissemination: Changes in Laws & Regulations Establishing National Center for External Audit Training up to 100 auditors Implementation of External Audit in every municipality

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits15 Lessons from our experience Involve users into development of procedures Make school principles and other managers your partners Develop specific (not only general) training modules Don’t save too much on dissemination and work with school community Begin with believers, end with the whole community

May 6, 2004Ričardas Ališauskas. System of School Internal and External Audits16 Linking Policies and Actions to Outcomes Learning Organisation Quality Assurance Energy Efficiency Balance of Quality and Access