| Abstract: | THE WAY TO EUROPE: EDUCATION REFORM IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE – Since embarking for the European Union in 1989, the countries
of Central and Eastern Europe have been reorganising and restructuring their educational systems. In doing so, they have not
only departed from the Soviet-style education model, but also recognised that education constitutes a key issue in competition.
Despite some economic problems, the education reforms in these countries have been regarded as part of a major effort at integrating
themselves into the European sphere of knowledge. Many of the efforts and measures in education policy envisaged and carried
out since the systemic change occurred have led not only to revitalizing national educational heritages, but also to the independent
adoption of other European and international trends and topics in educational discourse. Thereby, these states have proved
to be considerably more innovative and flexible than the “older” members of the EU. The prospect of being taken up into the
EU has probably helped accelerate the entire process. The present study focuses on some key overarching developments in the
educational landscape of states in Central and Eastern Europe, even as it is apparent that these are proceeding along different
paths at different speeds. |
