Members of the Consortium of three public organizations from Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan, led by Taalim-Forum, held a highlighted session on Educating for inclusion beyond the pandemic: Digitalization, distance education and the teaching profession in Central Asia at the 67th International Conference on Comparative International Education Society (CIES). The conference was held from 18 to 23 February 2023 in Washington, D.C., under the slogan Improving Education for a more Equitable World.
The panel session included presentations by the Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic and six project team members. The presentations analyzed three key issues identified by the pandemic - digitalization, distance education, and the teaching profession. Speakers presented case studies from three Central Asian countries and the results of the research conducted within the implementation of the project Distance education to improve quality and access to school education in Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan. In all three countries, the national governments have expressed their commitment to promoting digitalization, distance education technologies, and improving teachers’ professional development. The experience of forced transition to distance learning and the digital transformation of education in the countries show their ways to ensure continuity, access and quality of education. At the same time, there are a number of challenges that require solutions to ensure the quality of learning and access to education for children from vulnerable groups.
The session was attended by over 50 researchers, experts, and representatives of international and non-governmental organizations.
The panel description and abstracts are available here.
Presentations:
- Digital Transformation in Education: Challenges and Strategies for the Teaching Profession in the Kyrgyz Republic, Professor Ulanbek Mambetakunov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic
- A distant reality or distinctly possible? Challenges and opportunities for distance education in the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia and Tajikistan, Jyldyz Doolbekova, Almagul Osmonova, Emma Sabzalieva
- Gender inequalities and their educational implications for girls and boys in Central Asia during COVID-19, Chynara Omurkulova, MEL Consultant, Taalim-Forum
- Recent trends in distance education in Tajikistan, Abduvohid Safarov and Jovidsho Juraev, Anahita NGO
- Challenges and innovations in digitalization of education: Case study of Mongolia, Tungalagtuya Khuukhenduu, Sanjaabadam Sed, Ariunbileg Byambatsogt
