Second Festival of Education: Video

The Second Festival of Education, a two-day event with interactive urban areas and classes with a focus on science, technology and dissemination of traditional ecological knowledge occurred on April 26 and 27, 2014 in Bishkek. The Roza Otunbayeva Initiative International Public Foundation and the I. Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University were the main organizers of the event.

The purpose of the event was to revive interest in technical professions, develop scientific and technical creativity among children and disseminate traditional ecological knowledge. The Festival consisted of concerts, educational outreach fairs, professional forums, workshops, trainings, meetings and excursions.

The first day of the Second Festival of Education, at the I. Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University, had a scientific quiz tournament for pupils of all 11 forms. The intellectual battle involved teams from Schools Number 85 (Sverdlovsk region), Number 78 (Pervomajskij district) and Number 93 (Leninsky district). The quiz tournament consisted of three rounds: "Physics of Life," "Chemistry and Biology in My Life," "Ecology and Us."

Also held on the first day were presentations from the "We are the Intellectuals of the 21st Century," the Science and Technology Olympiad led by the Altyn Tuyun Republican Children's Engineering Academy and presentations of innovative education and business ideas from the "Success Story" project.

The second day’s festivities occurred around Old Town Square, Oak Park Gallery, State Historical Museum, Seytek National Center for Children and Youth "Seytek" and AUCA.

Four distinct fairs were held in the Old Town Square: Educational Services Fair, "City of Masters," "Unclassified" and "Flower Fair."

Additionally there was a competition called "Dad, Mom and I, a Technical Family", airplane modeling workshops, peskografii, as well as bubble and chemical shows.

The State Historical Museum hosted film screenings, concert performances and master classes on traditional ecological knowledge organized by foundations and centers involved in the regeneration, development and promotion of traditional knowledge in the field of nature and culture, the majority of which are supported by the Christensen Fund.

As per tradition, the Festival was accompanied by a variety of flash mob dance battles, festive concerts, theater and circus performances, sports and intellectual games.

Other co-organizers include the Mayor's Office of Bishkek, the Ministry of Education and Science, Agency of Vocational Education at the Ministry of Labor, Youth and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, UNICEF and the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO.