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Education Strategy 2007
In 2006 Educational Programs were funded by the National Foundation and covered three major strategic areas:
- Education Reform (together with WB and MoE)
Program consisted of three main components:
- Textbooks Policy consultancy
- School Grants Project
- ICT in Education
- OSI-AF Spin-off organizations Support (BEIC, Debate, CIE)
Institutional Support of Education Spin-off organizations.
- Education Policy Panel (EPP)
As in 2006 Education Reform program has come to an end (the program report is attached separately), in 2007 Education programs will consist of two major areas:
- OSI-AF Spin-off organizations competition based support (BEIC, Debates and CIE)
- Education Policy Panel (EPP)
- OSI-AF Spin-off organizations support
The situation with current OSI Education spin-offs is as follows:
Innovations in Education NGO
The Innovation in Education NGO is continuing its activities on institutionalization of RWCT and Step-by-Step methodology at the national education level.
The main achievement that will ensure the future sustainability of this NGO is the recognition by MOE of school-based Step by Step and RWCT Training centers network as eligible provider of alternative in-service teacher training on innovative teaching and learning methods.
The Innovations in Education NGO is exploring new areas of expertise:
- Teaching quality improvement and parents involvement in schools with marginal communities
- Step by Step methodology-based program on inclusion of children with special needs
Both initiatives were developed jointly with other international agencies and submitted to donors. The funding for the first project has already been received from British Petroleum. The second project has been submitted to UNESCO for funding.
Baku Education Information Center
BEIC is continuing advising activities with great support from US Embassy.
BEIC as the coordinator of the SW M.A. program establishment consolidated efforts of different stakeholders’ groups: capital and regional universities, administration and faculty, international university alumni association and educational NGOs.
Debate in Civic Society NGO
The Debate NGO is successfully facilitating two civics projects. The debate team, as experienced in organizational development, leaded the training on organizational skills, which was provided for educational NGOs. The debate team also was one of facilitators of the Civic Education Coalition. The Debate NGO also participates in National Budget Group of OSI-AF within TORPF program.
The main goals for work this year and next year are to strengthen the civic participation in education in Azerbaijan and to identify the mechanisms that will be applied.
In 2005 through work with Civic Education Coalition and consolidation of education NGOs OSI is planning to create an Education Forum, which will initiate the different Public awareness activities such as workshops, small grants competition and researches, which will focus on:
- The right of citizens to transparent decision making in the state institutions
- Anti-corruption education program and transparency issues in education
- Preparation, implementation and control of decision making in education at the municipal level.
Having supported educational spin-off NGOs for already three years, National Board has made a decision that starting from 2007 the support to Spin-off organizations will be made through competition announced specifically for OSI Education spin-offs to develop project proposals in compliance with mainstream directions of the foundation on policy impact, transparency and accountability of the government. Joint proposals with exposure to broader community are encouraged. These proposals for the upcoming year may include funds for project administration purposes.
- Education Policy Panel (EPP) initiatives (the report on 2006 activities is attached separately)
In 2007 OSI-AF will continue its endeavours in Education Policy. The goal of this program is to support the public awareness campaign on education-related issues through network of stakeholders, communities, media and beneficiaries.
Objectives
- To support public expertise on education issues in the country
- To establish cooperation between experts, policy makers, media representatives and education beneficiaries
- To cover and to analyze the trends and mainstream of the reforms of education in the country
- To provide training on Implementation of Education Policy Cycle
Target Group and Area
The target groups are educational community, education beneficiaries such as parents, teachers, students, media representatives who are important group to help in the future with development of public awareness campaign and continuing the Project activities after funding. The Forum will be open to teachers, university lecturers, policy-makers, government officials, politicians, NGOs representatives, parents and students.
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