On Wednesday February 16, the European Union, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Tajikistan together with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan (MoES) held the official opening ceremony of the first national teachers learning innovation center for the production of education TV lessons and the promotion of innovative blended learning content within the European Union funded program on Quality Education Support Program II.

The European Union Delegation to Tajikistan says the teachers learning innovation center opened its doors at the premises of Republican Institute for In-Service Teachers Training under the MoES.  The ergonomic and child-friendly design of the studio is reportedly equipped with video-production and other teaching and learning tools, as well as modern software and hardware.

The teachers learning innovation center will be used for the filming of video-lessons to improve the quality of education, level of knowledge, and self-learning ability of students of general secondary education institutions.  It will aim to develop the TV lesson teaching method by showcasing the video-lessons of highly competent, experienced teachers, while also equipping the MoES with innovative educational tools and online content to empower teachers and students to develop teaching and learning skills they need for blended and distance learning.  The process of development of high-quality education TV contents and digital learning material will bring about innovations in the field of education and help to strengthen the knowledge of students across core subjects.

To facilitate the continuation of learning outside the formal school setting amid the pandemic, UNICEF and the MoES worked together to develop a series of TV lessons that support students to learn the main subjects based on the general education curricula, and also developed  guidelines and tools for distance learning for teachers, students and parents.  The teachers learning innovation center provides a platform for rigorous regular education via a combination of distance learning and face-to-face instruction, which will prepare teachers to transition into a rigorous distant and blended learning environment.

“The new and modern teachers learning innovation center will provide good and necessary conditions for capacity building of teachers and students of Tajikistan.  As specified by the order of the President of Tajikistan, the MoES is currently developing a Concept on Digital Education which will move forward the process of digitalization of education in the country. This center will be a good start in this direction, with cooperation and support provided by the European Union and UNICEF, we are confident that students and teachers will use the best of this studio for their personal development.” Minister of Education and Science of Tajikistan Muhammadyusuf Imomzoda said.

The teachers learning innovation center will be used for developing and making use of video-lessons in Tajikistan which will support the progress of science, technology, and teaching methodology. Video-lessons are designed and filmed in accordance with subject standards, curricula and existing textbooks. Video-lessons will allow students to review each topic and better grasp the material that is produced, reinforcing the quality of general secondary education.

“Digital technologies are changing the world at an incredible speed and are reshaping how people live, work and study. The COVID-19 outbreak has demonstrated that an education and training system, which is fit for the digital age, is essential and has accelerated the already existing trend for transition towards blended learning. The European Union is pleased to support Tajikistan in the area of introduction of blended learning opportunities in order to give access to all young people of Tajikistan to quality materials that will help them to better prepare for the world of study and work. The opening of the teachers learning innovation center in RIITT is the one of the first steps towards the building of the country's capacity in this area,” underlined Mr. Marc Buchmann, Head of Cooperation, the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan

Implementing the state policy in the field of education, the center will help improving the quality of education for students of secondary schools through promoting multimedia and 'autonomous learning'. This process will enable students to adapt to the new digital culture and help solve urgent problems within the education sector by creating a more modern school environment, meeting the 21st century educational goals as outlined in the state educational and subject standards.  The process of development of video lessons will increase self-learning skills (competencies) and reach independence in planning and implementation of educational activities and in the organization of cooperation between teachers.

“We expect that the use of this new technology will further improve the access to quality education for all children in Tajikistan.  UNICEF remains committed to supporting education system and will continue working with the Government of Tajikistan and our partners to make sure every child and a young person have access to quality and inclusive learning in a safe and friendly environment” said Mr. Osama Makkawi, UNICEF Representative.

Students themselves will play an active role in their own education, such as by allowing them to define their own learning objectives, and enabling them to choose to improve their knowledge in a particular subject or area as well as ensuring students' access to educational electronic materials and visual aids.

UNICEF in Tajikistan and European Union are supporting the MoES in the development of innovative mechanisms to ensure the continuity of learning for every child and adolescent in the country during COVID 19 pandemic.  The effort of reimagining learning outside of the traditional classroom requires a close collaboration between UNICEF and MoES as well as the development of instructional, content, technology and institutional agreements.  The aim is to support in the design and production of more than 2000 TV lessons to support education delivery system for all subjects.  The first development of TV lessons for grade 9-11 has been completed as part of the immediate response, launched during May-July 2020.  The remaining lessons are to be developed covering all grades and subjects of national curriculum.