Consultative working meetings were held with the directors of the pilot schools on the institutionalisation of the STEM aspects

On 23-24 March 2022, meetings with the directors of the pilot schools of the Girls in Science project were held at the Aurora Recreation Center. The aim of the event was to develop school plans with a STEM component based on the results and lessons learned.

The event was attended by directors of pilot schools, representatives of the Ministry of Education of Kyrgyzstan and the Institute for Professional Development and Retraining of Educators; experts from the Department of Education of Bishkek city Administration; Department of Education of Osh city; Department of Education of Kara-Suu district; departments of education of Sokuluk, Ysyk-Ata, Alamedin districts of Chui region; and the Chui Regional Methodological Department, and project partners.

On the first day of the meeting, Minister of Education and Science, Mr Almazbek Beishenaliev, met online with directors of pilot schools of the Girls in Science Project and explained to teachers the role and possibilities of STEM in education.

The minister stressed the need to train STEM specialists in line with modern requirements and noted work wages in STEM are 26 per cent higher in the global market: "The Ministry of Education and Science is also working on the development of STEM fields. School curricula are being revised and changed”,  Mr Almazbek Beishenaliyev said.

Mr Almazbek Beishenaliyev thanked the Rosa Otunbayeva Initiative International Public Foundation and its executive director, Dogdurkiul Kendirbayeva, for their work in promoting education.

Participants of the meeting learned about the results of the project and the work done by the partner organisations. Based on the results of reflection and experience, the lessons learned and achievements of the "Girls in Science" project were presented.

On the second day of the event, participants were introduced to ongoing work in STEM policy and opportunities for institutionalisation at the local school level.

Project expert, Mr Mamytov Abakir, spoke on "Before, During and After Girls in Science Project: Demystification of STEM, Increasing Community Participation in Promoting STEM".

Mr Almaz Toktomametov, Director of the Institute for Professional Development and Retraining of Teachers, Spoke on "Professional Development of Teachers of STEM Subjects: Problems and Opportunities".

Ms Chynara Davletova, gender expert, made a presentation on "Involvement of Girls in STEM".

Ms  Jarkyn Bapanova, director of the Republican Children's Engineering Academy, "Altyn Tuyun",  shared her experience and spoke about the ongoing work of the Engineering Academy.

As the next steps, the directors will prepare school development plans, taking into account the information provided by the experts.

There were key activities to ensure sustainability of STEM and to find proposals to improve STEM policy at the school level, as well as to strengthen career guidance for economic empowerment of girls. The groups brainstormed ideas - what could be done to facilitate the participation of school directors in the implementation of the STEM policy. Following the session, the groups presented new ideas, mock-up solutions to refine the school plans.

The UNICEF Girls in Science project is implemented by the Roza Otunbayeva Initiative International Public Foundation, Child Protection Centre, and the AUCA Innovation College.  

The main aim of the project is to contribute to the achievement of Goal Five of the SDGs and the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic 2021-2040.  The project covers 81 schools in Bishkek, Osh and Kara-Suu cities; and Alamedin, Ysyk-Ata and Sokuluk districts of Chuy province.