To design and deploy innovative solutions in rural schools in Kyrgyzstan, by tackling infrastructure gaps in water and hygienic system, and facilitating inclusive and STEAM learning opportunities for rural children.
Description of the project
PHLE is based on the concept that Education and health are inseparable. In Kyrgyzstan, nearly 25% of school-going children do not have access to adequate WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) facilities and over 35% of them do not enjoy proper STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) learning along with digital connectivity. At the same time, people living in rural areas, urban informal settlements, disaster-prone, low-income and high mountainous areas are the most vulnerable and the most affected in the country, with a strong need of further support. Children’s success at school is greatly affected by the school environment, which is fundamental to ensure high-quality education and to promote children’s cognitive performance and life skills, including functional literacy. Thus, improving access to WASH facilities in schools can improve the health and well-being of learners and of the whole school community, with important impact in their communities in a long term perspective. To guarantee this result, the project – through a multi-level approach – will intervene in different areas of Kyrgyzstan in order to assist in introduction of inclusive and equitable quality education with special focus on STEAM and green skills; at the same time, it will assist in improvement of education facilities, connectivity and educational environment.
Objectives
- To encourage learners to be agents of change within their families and communities.
- To establish partnerships with relevant community organizations to improve WASH facilities and STEAM approach in schools and in the community as a whole.
- To create WASH and STEAM awards for WASH and STEAM-friendly schools and community groups.
- To ensure that teachers and peer mentors are comfortable and confident in delivering educational messages from the comprehensive STEAM curriculum.
- To ensure that education data management information system (EMIS) collects data on WASH in schools that can be used to report on achievement of the global SDGs and for national planning and programming.
Activities
- Diagnosis and feasibility studies of school infrastructure and connectivity necessary to select 3 or more unserved/underserved rural/urban schools with good potential to promote healthy environment in education facilities
- Installation of WASH facilities in the selected schools impacting over 1,500 children and sharing good practices how to set up and maintain facilities in affordable manner
- Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions (in-person, online and video lessons) on how to set up and maintain the facilities built on the best practice to promote WASH and digital connectivity in other schools
- Identification and development of STEAM and green skills learning methodologies with special focus on disability and gender equality
- Adaptation of STEAM learning approach to local context and mainstreaming of digital, green and media skills in selected schools
- Provision of free access (online) to all new learning materials in Russian, Kyrgyz and Uzbek languages for interested educational organisation
- Advisory support to promote sustainable and resilient education infrastructure financing, development of realistic financing plans for maintenance of WASH services and digital connectivity, including equity, climate resilience and sustainability aspects integrated in 10 or more selected school investment plans
- Building capacity of local authorities and communities to plan, regulate, and finance water and sanitation systems
- Maintenance of social dialogue with various education stakeholders to promote joint actions towards better school infrastructure and resilient, including potential public-private partnership (PPP) co-financing in 10 or more selected urban and rural schools impacting over 5,000 school children
- Assessment of learning outcomes by the testing institution in the selected urban and rural schools to detect impact of WASH availability, which will inform evidence-based decisions and investments
- Design and implementation of Behaviour Change framework
Results
Resources
- Methodological guide on environmental education for primary schools
- Research on current status of WASH services in school and their impact on attendance, education attainment, gender equality and inclusion
- Manuals to promote disability-inclusive education in local languages (Kyrgyz and Uzbek)
- Green handbook in Kyrgyz, Russian and Uzbek
- Monitoring visits report on the progress of infrastructure work on different areas of the country
- Educational material addressed to teachers and students on on safe water, toilets and improved hygiene behaviours
- Educational and training material on sustainable and resilient education infrastructure financing.
- Impact analysis
Impact
- 1.500 students will have access to improved WASH in selected rural schools.
- 1.000 students will enjoy integrated STEAM tools in learning process in at least 5 urban and rural schools.
- 10 elaborated school investment plans will be financed and implemented with a Public-Private-Partnership agreements.
- 13 schools (urban and rural) will have WASH facilities and digital upgrade: indoor WASH facilities will be constructed in selected rural schools in line with local technical standards, together with water heating as well as connectivity upgrade.
Partners
- Coordinator: Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci – ETS, Italy
- PA “Ken Duino”, Kirghizistan
