Center for Education Projects PIU The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports

EU4 Innovation STEM project aims to assist in building capacity of the National Center for Education Development and Innovation (NCEDI) to regulate policies affecting teaching quality and support for STEM education through acquisition of equipment. The project consists of the following main components: “Increasing capacity of the NCEDI to better regulate policies affecting the professional development of teachers” and “Improving the STEM learning environment in selected regions through acquisition of hardware and equipment”.
The Project Development Objective is to increase the capacity of the NCEDI to formulate and manage key policies affecting general education quality and improve the learning environment for STEM education in selected regions (Tavush marz). “Increasing capacity of the NCEDI to better regulate policies affecting the professional development of teachers” component will enhance development of capacities of teachers, professional and other staff of school, based on international best practices, consultations with stakeholders and alignment with the requirements set forth by the new curriculum. The Component is intended to define methodologies and guidelines for the development and expertise of educational curricula, learning materials, textbooks, assessment system, as well to coordinate the implementation of abovestated activities. In addition, NCEDI will be responsible for education, research and innovation, including development of proposals to improve the ongoing policies regarding education financing, management and etc.
Within the framework of Component the implementation of the following three activities has been planned: Technical assistance for strengthening the NCEDI capacities, Technical assistance to develop software for the standards for the accreditation of in-service teacher training providers, procurement of notebooks for NCEDI.
Gordon Academic College of Education (GACE) of Haifa, Israel was selected as a consultant to provide a technical assistance on strengthening capacities of National Center for Education Development and Innovation within the first component of the project. The expert consultants worked together via zoom meetings and a virtual platform. In this way the group was able to work together, and to discuss challenges and recommendations for improvement in a collaborative manner. It should be also noted during the project the study tour took place between the dates of May 29-June 3, 2022. A group of 15 NCEDI staff workers were chosen to attend this program in order to see first- hand and learn from Gordon College’s many experts, best practices and innovations in education. During the study tour the participants got acquainted with Israel’s Educational System. Over the five days of study at GACE, fifteen members of the NCEDI attended 20 different workshops including such topics like: Innovation in Pedagogy and education, age-based pedagogy for primary and secondary school education, Continued Professional Development of In-service Teachers, Innovative Learning Environments, Curriculum development integrating film and media into teaching and learning, Digital Pedagogy, Integrating informal educational approaches into formal education, Assessing the quality of training programs, monitoring and evaluation in Education, etc. In addition, and the end of each day there was a summary and discussion session. GACE provided Good practices and Models of School Management and accountability from different countries such as Denmark, England, Scotland, the Netherlands and USA. GACE also presented model for Teacher Self-Assessment tool.
Within the framework of the component “Improving the STEM learning environment in selected regions through acquisition of hardware and equipment”, it is planned to establish science (STEM) laboratories (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geography, ICT) in 76 general schools of Tavush marz, which will be equipped with modern laboratory and computer equipment.
The PIU has developed a tender package for the purchase of laboratory furniture and organized a national competitive bidding (NCB), as a result of which on April 27, 2022 laboratory furniture was provided to 77 schools in Tavush region, providing water supply and drainage in chemistry-biology laboratories.Based on the needs assessment provided by the MoESCS in January-February 2021 and the condacted visits to Tavush marz, the PIU, in coordination with the World Bank and MoESCS, developed a tender package for procurement of computer equipment for schools in Tavush marz. As a result all the laboratories have been equipped with the necessary computer equipment. So As of December, 2022 upon completion of the project the following results can be recorded: The NCEDI gains capacity to ensure quality assurance of professional development of teachers: a) Opportunities for study visit to learn about best practices and innovations in teacher policies.b)Pilot regions’ high and middle schools (except ICT materials) equipped with low-cost equipment to roll-out enhanced STEM equipment for enhanced teaching.