DECENTRALIZATION AND AUTONOMY OF SCHOOLS

Abstract

Decentralization is a mega-trend in European education system. Education ought to be of the essential issues of every society. Education should enable new generations to effectively communicate with the world. The foundation of such an education is given in school, but only if the same is compatible and connected to the local environment that tends towards the development. Therefore decentralization of all the educational institutions is necessary. It should not, however be preformed through financial and political projections, but rather through giving of the autonomy, shifting of the responsibilities for the quality of the system functioning to the lower levels of decision making. Experts have defined three forms of decentralization: deconcentration, delegation and devolution. Decentralization of educational system represents an effective instrument for promotion of democratic participation of all the consumers of educational institutions in process of decision making as well as taking on the responsibility for the outcome of education. Since decentralization aims at shifting the authority and responsibility to the school, that is the school director we should expect it to be an incentive from within and this would lead directly to the autonomy of the school itself. Autonomy is reflected in determining the aims of a school, curriculum, work organization, employment and financing.