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Updates and reports
1. Report on Education for Children at Risk in the Northern Caucasus published
In April 2008, the Education Support Program published a study titled Education at Risk in the Northern Caucasus: Adygheya, Dagestan, Ingushetiya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachai-Cherkessia, North Ossetia-Alania and Chechnya as part of the Caucasus Education Initiative (http://www.soros.org/initiatives/esp/focus_areas/region).
The purpose of this study is to examine the issues of access and quality of education provision in the Northern Caucasus region, more specifically to identify specific groups of children at-risk and examine factors hindering their full participation in education. Geographically, it covers the Northern Caucasus republics of Adygheya, Dagestan, Ingushetiya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachai-Cherkessia, North Ossetia-Alania, and Chechnya. In its methodology, the study relies on the quantitative and qualitative data gathered from a variety of information sources, including existing statistical data, document analysis, and interviews with education experts (school principals, local authorities, officials, and NGO activists), and teacher focus groups both in rural and urban areas.
The study was written by Dr. Irina Molodikova, and funded by the Education Support Program. It is available at: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/esp/articles_publications
2. Early Childhood Development: CEE/CIS Study Tour to the UK
UNICEF, the Open Society Foundation-London and the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) in collaboration with the Institute of Education, University of London, organized the second study tour for country teams from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan from April 21-25, 2008. (The first study tour was held in November 2007 for country teams from Albania, Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Moldova.)
The teams consisted of representatives of the ministries of education, UNICEF national offices, and NGOs that work in the field of early childhood development (ECD) and implement the Step by Step program. Representatives of health, social protection and financial sectors as well as academics from higher education institutions also attended. The aim of the study tour was to gain a first hand understanding of the role of rigorous research in shaping early childhood policy and influencing practice.
During the tour experts, researchers, administrators, and practitioners had the opportunity to learn and understand the UK's comprehensive approach to early childhood development and education, the emphasis on standards, regulations and independent monitoring of quality, and the links between research, policy and practice. It proved yet again that ECD partners can work closely and harmoniously to reach the goals for young children in the CEE/CIS region.
As a follow-up event, on May 14-15 UNICEF organized a roundtable discussion in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, which was attended by representatives of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, the President’s office, ministries of education, health, labor and social welfare, finance, the Academy of Science and other organizations as well as practitioners. Aija Tuna, the program director, represented the International Step by Step Association (ISSA), and presented ISSA standards as a tool for professional development and advocacy.
For more information on ISSA, please visit: http://www.issa.nl
Events
Reminder: Call for participation in NEPC Summer School on education research, policy and practice
There are still a few places open for the NEPC Summer School: Linking education research, policy and practice, to be held at Hotel Plesnik, Logarska dolina, Slovenia on July 21-25, 2008. Twenty-five participants from many regions of the world have already registered. Participants represent NGOs, parliaments, ministries of education, various educational agencies, and international organizations such as UNICEF, OHR, and OSCE.
The Network of Education Policy Centers (NEPC) is organizing this event to discuss topics such as education policy in transition countries; teacher and curriculum quality; education policy and social cohesion; education policy and academic achievement; education finance, governance and anti-corruption and transparency in administration. The program will include lectures, workshops, tutorials, and group work as well as real-example policy discussions. Lectures will be given by Stephen P. Heyneman, Alexandru Crisan and Maria Golubeva.
Applications are invited from:
- enthusiastic and ambitious policy makers and implementers at local, national and regional level from Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, former Soviet Union, Turkey and Mongolia
- graduate students in education policy from around the globe
More info at: http://ceps.pef.uni-lj.si/nepcsummerschool2008/
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