UNESCO Bamako Cluster Office
in partnership with
|
UNESCO Bamako Cluster Office in partnership with |
 |
Association for the Development of Education, Working Group on Higher Education |
Association of African Universities |
UNITED NATIONS
CHILDREN'S FUND |
Capacity Building Training Workshop on Teaching of Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education, Ségou, Mali, 17-18 July, 2009
As the world witnesses a decline in economic growth, nations are exploring ways of catalysing their economies. Massive injection of funds, drastic cut in interest rates and economic restructuring with attendant pains on the citizenry are some of the on-going reactions to the recessionary trend. There is however the outlook that increased production through innovative harnessing of the power of science and technology will play a significant role in bringing the economy back on track.
Unfortunately in Africa, the status of science and technology education is far from impressive. Performance in school and public examinations in science and technology is lack-lustre. In international science and mathematics competitions, African countries are ranked low on league tables. It becomes imperative, therefore for step up actions at addressing the problem so that African countries can take full advantage of the power of science and technology to leverage their economies.
There are a number of initiatives at national and regional levels to address the problem. UNESCO as well as professional associations of science, mathematics, engineering and technology teachers are among organisations that have taken steps in this direction. Noteworthy also, at the African regional level, strategies currently underway to promote gender parity include the Action Plan for the implementation of the 2nd Decade of Education in Africa (2006-2015); the Consolidated Plan of Action for Science and Technology in Africa; the launching of 2007 as the year of building constituencies and champions for science, technology and innovation in Africa, by the African Union Summit of the Heads of State and Government; the African Union (AU) regional conferences on Women in science and technology in Africa and the AU progressive gender policies.
This workshop is rested on addressing five major needs. First, there is a general shortage of qualified science, mathematics, engineering and technology (SMET) teachers at the secondary and higher education levels. On the average in Africa, the supply is about half the demand with retention being an issue since the pull outside teaching is strong. Such teachers deploy poor teaching methods and are unable to establish linkages between classroom experiences for students and the world of work. There is an urgent need to seek ways of tackling the problem of shortage through modelling of exemplary practices from countries with success stories in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.
Second, many SMET teachers are deficient in the use of ICT to leverage curriculum delivery. The potential of ICT in enhancing effectiveness of teaching and learning has not been fully explored. There is a need to continually equip teachers with knowledge and skills that will enable them benefit maximally from the use of ICT. Thirdly, many teachers lack pedagogic skills to promote gender equity in SMET classes yet the gap between male and female in participation and achievement continues to widen. There is a need to equip teachers with such skills in order to catalyse the narrowing of gender gaps.
Fourthly, there is inadequacy in curriculum development as the curriculum content and the teaching/learning materials are not gender inclusive. Fifthly, we need to build capacity in guidance and counselling in order to enhance opportunities for girls and women in science and technology education. In sum, there is a need to train well qualified science, mathematics, engineering and technology teachers and to introduce teaching methodology that helps students develop initiative and creativity – core ingredients for success in a rapidly changing world.
OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP
The workshop is organised as a follow-up to the First International Conference on Girls and Women in Science and Technology in Africa. The objectives are to:
· foster through hands-on training, the acquisition of skills in the effective delivery of science, mathematics, engineering and technology education;
· equip teachers with knowledge and skills for effective use of ICT in curriculum delivery in science, mathematics, engineering and technology;
· provide participants with pedagogic skills for promoting gender equity in science, mathematics, engineering and technology classes;
· train participants in developing gender-inclusive curriculum in science, mathematics, engineering and technology; and
· build capacity in guidance and counselling in order to enhance opportunities for girls and women in science and technology education.
SUB-THEMES/FOCAL AREAS FOR PRACTICUM
PARTICIPANTS
· Science, mathematics, engineering and technology teachers at all levels of the education system
· Curriculum development specialists
· Experts in the use of ICT in delivering quality education
· Senior staff of Ministries in charge of gender issues, including the Ministries of Education and Science and Technology;
· School Authorities at all levels;
· Specialists in guidance counselling;
· Professional associations working in the area of science, technology and engineering education;
· Women engaged in scientific and technological careers;
· Researchers working on issues related to gender parity in science and technology;
· Representatives of institutions specializing in gender and science and technology;
· Academies of sciences and technologies;
· Organisations of civil society;
· Technical and Financial partners
EXPECTED RESULTS
· Science, mathematics, engineering and technology teachers with improved knowledge and skills for effective use of ICT in curriculum delivery
· Participants with pedagogic and guidance and counselling skills for promoting gender equity in science, mathematics, engineering and technology classes;
· Participants with skills in developing gender-inclusive curriculum in science, mathematics, engineering and technology; and
· Training manual for capacity building in science, mathematics, engineering and technology education
DURATION: 2 DAYS
WORKING DOCUMENTS
In 2007, UNESCO published a training module on "Girls and Science" to help strengthen the capacity of the major players in the achievement of gender parity in science and technology in Africa. This module will be used as one of the training documents at the workshop. The other training materials will include commissioned studies, best practices, case studies and research works on girls and women on science and technology for Arica and papers presented at the 1st International Conference on Girls and Women in S&T for Africa.
WORKSHOP FEE
No registration fee is charged to participants. As a general rule, the organizing committee does not pay for participants’ travel and living expenses. However, limited funds will be mobilized to meet the participation cost of selected specialists.
EXHIBITION
A limited amount of space will be available for commercial vendors’ displays/exhibits during the conference.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Papers or posters on issues falling within the sub-themes outlined above may be submitted ONLINE as contributions to the conference. Persons who wish to present a paper or poster at the conference must submit an extended synopsis (in English or French) of 800 words (i.e. two A4 format pages of single spaced typing or the equivalent, including any tables or diagrams and a few pertinent references) before 30 April, 2009.
Authors will be informed by mid-April 2 whether their paper/poster has
been accepted for presentation by the Programme Committee. A subset of papers
presented at the conference will be published subject to peer review. Further
details will be provided after the extended synopses have been reviewed.
WORKSHOP WEB SITE
The conference web site for registration and where information updates can be obtained is located at http://www.unesco-bamako.org/conferences
For further information, please contact:
Professor Juma Shabani
Director UNESCO and Representative
Bamako Cluster Office
Bamako
Professor Peter Okebukola
President
Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI) -Africa Region
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Crawford University
Igbesa, Ogun State, Nigeria
peter@okebukola.com.
Dr Kanyankore Marcel Rudasingwa
Resident Representative
UNICEF Mali
Bamako
Alice Sena Lamptey
Coordinator-WGHE
Association of African Universities
P.O.Box AN 5744
Accra-North
Ghana
Tel.233-21-761588 / 774495
Fax 233-21-774821
alamptey@aau.org
