Improving Learning, Educational Outcomes and Quality in Whole-Day Schools: Challenges of a New model of Primary School Organization in the Republic of Croatia

The WDSQUALITY project deals with the systematization of European experiences and practices when it comes to all-day school as an educational model of school work and the scientific evaluation of changes in compulsory education in the Republic of Croatia through the introduction of the all-day school model as a model of school work in compulsory education. Over the course of four project years, the assembled research team of leading educational and methodical experts in the Republic of Croatia, experts from Portugal and Finland in educational reforms of this level and complexity, will look at the similarities and differences, advantages and disadvantages, and point out the threats and opportunities of the full-day elementary school model in Republic of Croatia. Through the combination of several methodological approaches and methods, the project will, through the systematization of European experiences, direct observation of experiences and interviewing stakeholders within European educational systems traditionally known for the model of school work as full-day schools, that is, educational systems that have recently implemented full-day school, and through a scientific meta-evaluation of all available evaluation data collected during the implementation of the CDŠ pilot, the WDSQUALITY project will provide valuable insights into the overall achievements of full-day schools as a model of school work, and present scientifically based recommendations. This will make the WDSQUALITY project a center of knowledge and expertise when it comes to full-day schools in the Republic of Croatia. Project team members: Josip Burušić (Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences), Mirela Crljen (Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences), Jelena Selihar (Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences), Božo Pavičin (Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia), Anssi Salonen (University of Eastern Finland), Pedro Abrantes (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa), Slaven Staklenac (Većeslav Holjevac Elementary School), Marina Gabelica (Faculty of teacher education, University of Zagreb), Ljerka Jukić Matić (School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics, University of Osijek), Mila Bulić (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split), Sanja Jurić (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb).