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Most-Hid: Slovak Language Teaching Methodology Must Be Revised
Monday 22 March 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, March 22 (TASR) - Non-parliamentary Hungarian-Slovak party Most-Hid is convinced that pupils at minority schools for ethnic-Hungarian children must learn the Slovak language properly so that they will stay on the Slovak labour market when they leave school, said head of the Host-Hid education committee Alzbeta Ozvaldova at a press conference on Monday.
Therefore, according to Ozvaldova, the current teaching methodology for the Slovak language has to be changed. Students should first listen, then understand, because only when they understand can they communicate. "Instead of this, we expect grammar rules from them before they even understand," she pointed out.
In order to improve the current situation, Most-Hid suggests that more difficult grammar and literature lessons should be transferred from the curricula of primary schools to secondary schools. Literature teachers should, according to Ozvaldova, concentrate on improving and developing communication skills. The party would also welcome more Slovak language and conversation lessons.
Most-Hid suggests setting up apolitical and stable education committees that would deal with the education programme and development concepts for the education system.
Ozvaldova criticises the fact that when school reform was being prepared two years ago, the alarmingly bad education results at Slovak schools weren't taken into consideration at all. "Our pupils have a very low level of reading literacy. Only Turkish and Mexican children were behind ours," she noted, referring to OSCE PISA surveys.
Ozvaldova quoted results according to which Slovak schools scored an average of 469 points in 2003, while schools for ethnic-Hungarian children gained 470 points. Three years later, Slovak schools got 470 points, while ethnic-Hungarians managed to improve their results to 489 points.
After the election, the party wants to summon round tables involving all political parties that would be ready to offer independent experts to the education committees. "It's unacceptable to make interventions in the education system every four years when the government changes," added Ozvaldova.
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