Environmental Education Program Initiated in the School Education System
of Kostanay Oblast, Republic of Kazakhstan

The Environmental Education Program for teachers and students in grades 3-4, 5-8 and 9-11, formed by the general schools, lectures of higher education institutions, and inspectors of protected territories, has been developed within the framework of the Kazakhstan Coordination Unit of the Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP).

The goal of the education program is to raise awareness among all populations of the importance of the conservation of wetland biodiversity and sustainable development in Kostanay Oblast, based on the region’s global significance as a key ornithological region and education on the careful treatment of nature.

Teacher training at Naurzum

The Education Program consists of seven main stages:

• Preparation of training materials for all population groups at the project sites,

• Reception of expert assessment of education materials and approval by Kostanay Oblast Institute of Refresher Courses for Teachers,

• Training of lectures of higher education institutions and delivery of textbooks,

• Training of school teachers at the project sites,

• Delivery of education material kits to district education departments, schools and libraries at the project sites.

• Training of the inspectors of the game reserve and the society of huntsmen and fishermen,

• Training of NGO leaders and active groups at the project sites.

The most difficult initial steps in the program implementation already have been realized. During two years from 2005 to 2006, the Project Coordination Unit has prepared 17 versions of the education materials, which includes: basic training kits on the importance of biodiversity conservation, modules for teachers, collections of annexes, cases for students, CD and DVD-disks with training film and materials.

The developed program was adopted by the Kostanay Oblast Institute of Refresher Courses for Teachers and by the Kostanay Pedagogical Institute.

The project experts have organized a cycle of workshops to train the program trainers on using the education materials for lectures of higher education institutions and secondary school teachers in Kostanay city since April 2007. The teachers and young scientists of Kostanay Pedagogical Institute and subject teachers (geographers, biologists, chemists and others), invited from Naurzum, Karasu and Kamystin districts of the oblast, corresponding to the project sites, have been involved in the workshops.

Training seminar at the Kostanay Pedagogical Institute

The second stage of introducing the education program was organized in August 2007 directly at the project sites. The program was presented at district teacher conferences from the period of 21-29 August, 2007, followed by a cycle of training workshops organized at schools within all of the projects sites.

The material kits in hard copy and in electronic format were delivered to district education departments, school libraries and teachers. About one thousand people took part in this educational action, commenced in April 2007 in Kostanay.

Presentation on the SCWP Education Program by project advisor Belyi A. at the regional teachers conference in Kamysty

In March 2008 the project experts will start a cycle of workshops for the inspectors of the game reserve and the society of huntsmen and fishermen, and in August the workshops will be held for NGO leaders and active groups at the project sites.

In 2009 the project experts plan implementation of joint activities with Kostanay Oblast Institute of Refresher Courses for Teachers and district education departments on the broad introduction of the Environmental Education Program into the school process.

For more information on this program please contact:
 
Vera Inyutina, Project Manager
Astana city, Kazahkstan
tel./fax: 8-317-2-34-01-45
vera.inyutina@mail.ru
http://www.scwpkaz.kepter.kz/

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Last update: 9 November 2007

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