Education of Defenders - Croatian Economic Challenge and Potential for the 21st Century

Rad predstavlja proširenu inačicu radnog materijala za Okrugli stol UHVDR -e RH, na istoimenu temu; a svrha mu je potaknuti nove pristupe u rješavanju temeljnih životnih problema u populaciji branitelja (ratnih veterana). Na prvome mjestu ističe se pitanje visoke i dugotrajne nezaposlenosti branitelja (više od 40 000 potkraj 1997.), a slijede pitanja nezadovoljavajuće obrazovne strukture, neprimjerenog zakonskog rješavanja prava na obrazovanje, posebice u sustavu obrazovanja odraslih, neprimjerenih organizacijskih i metodičkih rješenja u obrazovnom procesu koja zanemaruju životnu dob i iskustvo, itd.. Razmatrajući ulogu znanja i obrazovanja u svjetskim relacijama, autor naglašava povezanost razine obrazovanosti stanovništva i gospodarskog rasta i zalaže se za veće državno ulaganje u školovanje ratnih veterana kao, dugoročno gledano, najunosniju investiciju, te za stvaranje društvenog ozračja u kojemu će posebnu vrijednost imati novi odnos prema radu, znanju i obrazovanju. Nova kvaliteta rada, znanja i obrazovanja, potencijalno, najvažniji su ključevi gospodarskog razvitka.The study represents the extended version of the draft paper prepared for the round table under the same title organized by the Association of the Croatian War Veterans of Republic of Croatia, purpose of which was to encourage new approaches to solve basic problems of living for the defender\u27s population (war veterans). Among those, the issue of defenders\u27 high and long-lasting unemployment rate (more than 40 000 by the end of 1997) stands out, followed by the unsatisfactory educational structure of defenders and inadequate legal provisions of the right on education, specially in adult education system, and inadequate organizational and methodological solutions in educational process which disregard the age and experience, etc. Considering the role of knowledge and education world wide the author emphasizes the connection between the level of education among the population and economic growth, and advocates the larger state investments in war veterans schooling as a long-term most profitable investment and the creation of the new atmosphere in the society where the new approach to work, knowledge and education would have a special value. New quality of work, knowledge and education are potentially the most important keys for the economic development