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UNESCO supports the development of online education in schools in Kyrgyzstan

On December 13, 2019, a validation seminar "Digital and methodological approaches to forming interdisciplinary competences of students for sustainable development" was held in Bishkek within the framework of the UNESCO project with the support of Estonia. The seminar presented online learning and teaching materials for grades 5-6.
In 2015, Kyrgyzstan and other UN members states agreed to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education within the framework of Education 2030 Agenda. UNESCO's joint work with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic is aimed at mainstreaming the concept of education for sustainable development into the school curriculum in various scientific disciplines through the development of appropriate content and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), taking into account international best practices. The current project drew on the experience of Estonia, Lithuania, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (India) and other countries.
The developed learning and teaching materials consider the topics of modern global problems: the issues of intercultural understanding and tolerance, migration and demography, the problems of social inequality and discrimination that arise with it. The learning and teaching materials also raise the issues of health and well-being, environmental awareness and media and information literacy. However, gender equality and ICT literacy are cross-cutting themes for all modules.

Ms. Nadira Zhusupbekova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, Dr. Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator in Kyrgyzstan, Ms. Krista Pikkat, Director of the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (UNESCO Almaty) and Mr. Heiti Mäemees, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Turkmenistan, opened the seminar.

Also, international experts from Lithuania and Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools presented their experience in the development and integration of such materials in the educational process, in the training of teachers and tools for assessing student achievement. Other participants of the event – representatives of international and public organizations of Kyrgyzstan, educators, including regional, discussed new approaches to socio-emotional learning of students in grades 5-6 using digital technologies. The seminar resulted in the exchange of experience and recommendations for the development and implementation of online learning and teaching materials, as well as the enhancement of the capacity of teachers for sustainable development and ICT literacy.

Starting from January 2020, it is planned to train teachers of pilot schools and test the developed learning materials in 15 schools of the country with both Kyrgyz and Russian languages of instruction.

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Related information: ICT in Education