The «Caravan of Knowledge» Passes through the Batken Region

The “Caravan of Knowledge” is passing through the Batken Region. Colleagues at the Roza Otunbayeva Initiative and experts in education Gulmira Chepekova and Asil Zhoodohbekov led training in Kyzyl-Kyya and Isfana. Training was conducted for activists from local children’s organizations on how to solve the problems of preschool education through their own efforts.

At the meetings, Zhibek Koychukulovoi and Abdulaziz Zaitov, participants in a professional tour of Istanbul, presented the Turkish experience of education, which calls for the strong interest of teachers and parents. The Batken Region is a leader in preschool education coverage through the opening of short-stay community preschools, as found in Turkey.

The following topics were discussed:

• The need to change the legal base regulating the opening and operation of alternative forms of preschools and the provision of educational services by the private sector;
• The lack of books and study guides for educators, teachers, and parents;
• Involvement of the community, parents, and businesses in the development of preschool education;
• The need for the introduction of mandatory yearlong preparation for school;
• Optimize the performance of existing preschools in order to increase the coverage, for example, excluding the lunchtime nap and using the newly freed rooms for the opening of new groups; and
• Increase the participation of fathers in the upbringing and education of children.