This component aims to improve the existing system of school-based assessment in order to improve teaching and learning and to contribute to the optimal individual progress of every student.
                                                                        (Extract from the Component mission statement)

The component activities are focused on:

1. Raising the awareness of professional and public audience about the need for quality assessment by publishing professional and promotional materials; providing information and participation in addressing issues related to the assessment.
2. Improving the quality of school-based assessment practices
3. Linking school-based assessment with the external assessments, which are part of the activities of the Ministry of Education and other state institutions.

The component aims to develop a model of school-based assessment in the Republic of Macedonia which will be compatible with assessment in EU countries.

The component is implemented in partnership with the Macedonia Civic Education Center (MCEC).

The following activities are being implemented:

1. Developing standards in student assessment

PEP has assisted the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) to develop a key document “Guide for school-based assessment in primary schools”, which was approved by the Minister of Education at the beginning of 2008. It comprises the basic principles of school-based assessment, the standards of quality implementation of assessment in schools and the required competences of teachers to administer assessment in accord with the established standards. This document represents a framework for all project activities in improving school-based assessment.

In order to help develop high professional standards in assessment, the component also developed a “Code of Ethics in Assessment”. This code concerns teachers, parents and government officials responsible for education.  In many schools, parents and students were involved in developing school-specific codes of assessment ethics.

2. Providing support to professional development of teachers in assessment

The component is providing training to teachers on formative assessment, summative assessment, development of tests and assessment instruments, the use of various procedures in assessment in order to improve learning and achievement of students. Aiming to provide training for all teachers, PEP conducts training courses at national and regional level, as well as training at school level. The basic training on formative assessment in the period Jan. 2008 – Sep. 2010 was completed by more than 90% of all upper elementary teachers in Macedonia.

School directors and school pedagogues/psychologists, as well as municipal educational officers were also provided with training on planning and monitoring the improvement of school-based assessment. It is planned that by the end of the project all primary schools in Macedonia will receive training on summative assessment.

During project implementation, teachers are supported by Bureau for Development of Education advisors and more experienced teachers – colleagues from other schools. PEP promotes cooperation within and between schools in the area of improving assessment.
Those teachers and education professionals that demonstrate competences in applying the new approaches to assessment are engaged as trainers and mentors of other teachers.

3. Creating electronic and written materials on assessment

Those teachers that are most creative in applying various assessment methods and techniques are selected as leaders and work with PEP in developing written and digital materials for teaching and training, including assessment instruments for use in everyday classroom practice. They also work on developing test items and creating an electronic test item-bank, which is planned to be used by teachers for improving the quality of test items that they develop, as well as in developing their own quality tests. 

4. Support to the state and local educational institutions in using the new assessment approaches

In order to improve the assessment, the Component cooperates with MoES, Bureau for Development of Education, State Examination Center, State Education Inspectorate and municipalities through organizing specific trainings and providing information to support the development of the educational policies.