The training is part of a national program for the training and certification of textbook authors, which was launched by the Ministry of Education and Science for the first time this year. Officials hope that the new requirements will improve the quality of future textbooks and make them easier to understand and more user-friendly for students and teachers.
The reform affects the entire textbook development process
The reform of school textbooks is being carried out in parallel with the revision of the national curriculum and covers the entire cycle—from the training of authors to the evaluation and selection of educational materials.
Among the planned changes are training and certification for authors and experts, increasing the weight of the quality criterion to 90% in textbook evaluations, updating requirements for content and graphic design, and developing digital and interactive educational resources.
The training, taking place August 11–13, is organized as part of the program’s second module—“Best Practices in School Textbook Editing.” It brings together textbook authors from all educational fields and school subjects.
Participants are divided into seven working groups covering foreign languages, natural sciences, geography, art, physics, biology, computer science, chemistry, history, elementary education, as well as the teaching of Romanian, Russian, Gagauz, Ukrainian, and Bulgarian languages and literature.
Less rote learning, more practical application
The program is being conducted with the participation of experts from Estonia. The authors are exploring approaches to translating curriculum requirements into content, lessons, and assignments designed to help students not only absorb information but also apply the knowledge they have gained.
“The new textbooks will focus less on memorizing information and more on understanding and applying it. The exercises will help students think, ask questions, seek solutions, and apply their knowledge in specific situations,” noted Galina Rusu, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science.
A separate training module is devoted to the structure and visual design of textbooks. Authors learn about approaches to page layout, font selection appropriate for students’ ages, the use of high-quality illustrations, and the development of clear and understandable learning activities.
As noted by the Ministry of Education and Research, the new requirements must address issues identified in currently used textbooks, including overly dense content, language that is difficult to understand, small font sizes, blurry images, and assignments that are not clear enough.
Digital technologies and AI have been incorporated into the program
Another focus of the training is the use of digital technologies in the educational process. Participants are studying Estonia’s experience in developing digital textbooks and educational resources.
The program also examines the possibilities and limitations of applying artificial intelligence tools in education.
In addition, the training addresses interdisciplinary connections and ways in which textbooks can help students link the knowledge they gain in school to real-world situations.
Following the program, there are plans to create a database of certified authors. It is proposed that textbook procurement procedures include a requirement stipulating that at least 30% of the authors involved in the preparation of a single textbook must hold the appropriate certification.
The training program is organized by the Ministry of Education and Research in partnership with the United Nations Development Program, with financial support from the Government of Norway.
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