Monitoring and Evaluation

Several tools are used to monitor the sustainability and effectiveness of the trainings in the work of all training courses, as well as the effectiveness of the trainers during the training, regardless of the target group or the institution for which it is provided. Both participants and trainers are evaluated during the training. In addition, basic data needs to be collected from the list of participants.

Two methods are used to monitor the participants' opinions: a short daily evaluation at the end of each day of the training and a final written evaluation at the end of each course.

Each training is coached by CAMP Alatoo experts and at the end of all trainings the participants exchange feedback, where they share their impressions and suggestions for improving their coaching skills. And also, to improve the presentation of the material.

Four years project duration enabled the team to invest two years for institutionalization and mainstreaming of the developed ESD manual and thus achieve high impact figures and broad coverage 

A regular ESD unit is required to ensure quality control, provide coaching and capacity building trainings for ready ESD trainers and new ones

Integration ESD to curricula of the national educational institutions

The core objective to achieve sustainability was to integrate the Education for Sustainable Development methodological course using the GIZ manual, into regular teachers training courses. This particularly contributes to the achievement of SDG 4 “Quality of Education”. 

Another main objective was to integrate a methodological course on ESD into the standard curricula of teacher training institutions, both for in-service teacher training and pre-service teacher training. To achieve this goal CAMP Alatoo and GIZ consultant made a stakeholders’ mapping and identified educational institutions responsible for in-service pre-service teachers training and willing to develop ESD in the country.

In 2021-2022 three institutions (I. Arabayev Kyrgyz State University (KNU), M. Rakhimova Institute of Professional Development and Retraining at I. Arabayev KNU, the Republican Institute of Professional Development and Retraining of Educators at MoI and KR) on a basis of a Memorandum of Understanding were trained and coached throughout the process of developing ESD based courses, testing and adaptation of the learning materials and training of pre-service and in-service teachers. 

The fourth institution Osh state university inspired by the ESD trainings requested support in training its teachers. After trainings the university also introduced ESD into its curricula. 

  • High commitment from implementing partners of educational institutions
  • Clear division of roles between partners, good coordination between partners
  • Activation of local teachers after the conducted ESD trainings
  • Coaching of the institutions throughout the process of ESD courses development and integration 
  • Clear communication of the importance of mainstreaming ESD into programs to ensure that goals and objectives and potential benefits are fully understood. 
  • The importance of strong partnerships.
CAMP Alatoo PF trained educators to introduce sustainable development for education and biodiversity conservation topics in schools

To ensure sustainable conservation of the manual through methodological training of teachers in educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan CAMP Alatoo had the task to train multipliers to disseminate the manual through on-site trainings. In particular, this was an indicator for raising awareness in the project region. 

Teacher training on teaching sustainable development and biodiversity conservation in schools was conducted in Jalal-Abad. The event was organised for secondary school teachers, the Jalal-Abad Methodological Centre, representatives of the Arabaev KSU and the Republican Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining of Teachers. Two teacher training courses were conducted by trained teachers from Bishkek, J-A city and Bazar-Korgon district during the assignment. At the first training teachers learnt the ESD methodologies and practiced ESD manual exercises, while at the second training they were implementing a role of trainers. During the whole process they were supported and coached by CAMP Alatoo team and consultants. 

The outstanding trainers/teachers were selected as master trainers and are now supporting the project by training teachers in the project regions and outside the project area.

The following aspects contributed to this:

  • Voluntary willingness of trainers to learn and disseminate ESD through trainings in their regions; 
  • The multipliers (teachers) were participating the project activities on development and testing of the manual from the very beginning
  • Coaching of teachers and quality control
  • Capacity building and in-service training of teachers on how to use the ESD manual in schools;
  • Openness and willingness of educational institutions to cooperate.
  • There is an urgent need to expand education and community awareness;
  • There is a great need to develop and modify educational programs.
Testing the environmental education manual

The schools in the pilot area of Jalal-Abad oblast tested the preliminary version of the environmental education manual. During the testing the quality of material presentation, the capacity of teachers and pupils to understand and absorb the new information was identified.

In addition to informational and educational content, project specialists from “CAMP Alatoo” PF and “Lesik Ug” association practiced practical exercises together with pupils in 6 schools. High school students performed tasks to understand different processes, such as climate change, as well as the functions of ecosystems and natural resources specific to Kyrgyzstan.

After the pilot testing, adjustments and modifications were made to the manual as exercises, at the same time the teaching methodology of the teaching material was studied.

  • Assistance from the district education center.
  • Provision of free TOT facilities.
  • Support for teachers and their willingness to learn ESD

testing of the learning materials with the targeted audience is highly important

Development of teaching materials with involvement of stakeholders

A special feature of the training manual is that the material on pasture management, forestry and adaptation to climate change is based on the example of Kyrgyzstan, where teachers from Bishkek and Jalal-Abad have identified topics and offer a new methodology for teaching sustainability standards. 

In the frame of the project a teacher manual on Education for sustainable development and biodiversity had been developed.

The manual consists of the following 4 technical chapters each with elaborated exercises and teaching aids as well as one methodological pre-chapter:

  1. Education for sustainable development
  2. Forest
  3. Pasture
  4. Climate

The manual is designed to address gaps in the school curriculum with regard to teaching about the environment, using Kyrgyzstan as an example. "When it comes to teaching materials on the environment, they often do not address this area in relation to our country. For example, pasture and forest management systems in Kyrgyzstan.

  • Motivation of teachers
  • Strong external expert support
  • Existing profound knowledge and experience in natural resources management
  • Joint identification with teachers of themes and needs for educational materials
  • Pre-testing is highly important to develop need-based training materials

ESD chapters developers need trainings/guidance on development process to ensure that all the materials are of the same format and content.

KAP research (Knowledge, Attitude, Perception)

The start of our information campaign was preceded by a survey among the communities in the project area. We used this approach to objectively assess the attitudes and use of local people's knowledge about the state of the forest, their understanding and perception of the consequences of the current environmental situation, and their willingness to change consciousness and behaviour. First we interviewed 214 respondents in 4 rural districts to determine their level of awareness of the project's thematic areas and their preferences for the choice of information sources/channels/activities that would be effective in increasing their environmental knowledge. 

The target groups selected were: 

1. Representatives of local authorities at the rural district, village level (village administrations, forestry); 

2. Representatives of social institutions (schools, kindergartens, hospitals, first aid points);

3. Representatives of different associations and groups: religious (mosques), pasture committees, water users associations, political parties, NGOs etc; 

4. General population: dependent users of natural resources (focus on pilot communities): forest users, pasture users, product processors, etc.; women, elderly, people with disabilities.

The results of the survey showed that the level of environmental awareness and readiness to change the consciousness and behaviour of the population was below average (on a scale from 1 to 10 it was 4). The planned information campaign should have raised the level by at least 3 points. According to the results of the final KAP survey conducted among 332 residents in the two districts within the project area, the score would be 7. Thus, the level of environmental awareness was 10 points after the end of the project. 

 

The KAP baseline and final surveys were conducted in an open and friendly manner on the part of the local people who participated in the survey. Their attentiveness, careful reflection on the answers and honesty gave an objective picture of the level of public awareness and knowledge of the use and conservation of walnut forests and rangelands. Careful preparation of the study also played a big role, including the design of the questionnaire in local two languages, effective sampling of respondents, inclusion of female interviewers, taking into account local mentality and traditions, etc. This helped us to build and implement an effective information campaign in which local communities were given a central role.

During and after completing the KAP studies, it became clear to us that when interviewing local people, it was advantageous to know their mentality, life, everyday life, conditions that enable them to generate income from renting forest plots, collecting, processing, selling nuts and other forest products. The language and wording of the questionnaires were also important to people. The simpler and clearer the questions are phrased and the more accessible their language, the easier it is to get a clear and direct answer. And another important lesson lies in the behavior of the interviewers themselves, in their politeness, friendliness and willingness to explain or reformulate the question. 

Сommunity-based information campaign

In creating the information events plan, we used the edutainment principle and tried to make the events diverse and interesting for people of different statuses, occupations and ages. The main role in each event or activity was given to local people. They had to take an interest in ensuring that the condition of the walnut forests and other environmental problems in their area was addressed, not exacerbated. For example, in the third year of the March for the Parks, we saw a change in the attitude of the Dashman Nature Reserve staff towards this environmental action. The event, which some time ago was "on duty" and, in their opinion, was only our duty and responsibility, has now been seen by them as the transfer of knowledge to the younger generation and the cultivation of a caring attitude towards the forest in schoolchildren. On the day of the March of Parks, staff members of the zapovednik nature reserve donned their ceremonial Marine Wave uniforms, took schoolchildren on excursions to the forest, told them interesting facts about the flora, recalled practical cases and participated in a litter pickup on the territory of the zapovednik. Our summer school "Chyirak Zhangak" ("Strong Walnut") for high school students has become a place that is impossible to enter without a competition. During the selection rounds, we received 45-50 essays from high school students wishing to attend the summer school. We had to make difficult choices among the best of the best because of the limitation on places for participants. In other events we could often count on the active participation and support of local people. During the filming of short films, they played occasional roles for free and lent their homes as filming sites.

ESD Manual offers Biology and Geography teachers additional teaching methods adapted to Kyrgyzystan that are in sync with the curricula

Modern teaching methods and materials are often adapted to a European context and setting, making it hard to impossible to integrate them into a system that works differently. The ESD Manual offers Biology and Geography teachers additional teaching methods adapted to Kyrgyzystan that are in sync with the curricula. Teachers can use more interesting material to enhance their classes. Education is the basis towards a healthier planet, only by knowing how to act more sustainably, behavior can be adapted. 

The educational standards and the curriculum are showing access points for ESD, but they are not reflected in the school-books, because they are outdated.

Another weak link exists between the educational standards and the school curriculum on the one hand and the implementation through the teachers training institutions on the other hand.

  • Integration of sustainable development and ESD approaches and principles in Kyrgyzstan is experiencing some difficulties due to low interest of the Ministry of Education. Today, most of the teaching staff is ready for this work, as evidenced by the results of numerous trainings conducted by the NGO "CAMP Alatoo".
  • Low interest and capacity of specialists of educational institutions in the development of ESD standards and programmes;
  • Lack of optimization of pedagogical workload (a teacher with a high workload is not able to prepare for classes and improve his/her professional skills).
黄龙自然保护区管理局

改解决方案采用水下低速射流和超临界流方法,设计了虹吸管驱动系统。

低速射流:于彩池底部人工形成淹没贴壁湍动射流, 临时重建流体边界层(层流边界层和湍流粘性底层)。充分利用边界层内较强的 粘滞力,消减进入层内的碳酸钙微粒的动能,使得微粒逐层沉积固结。流速最 大控制在2m/s以内,以达到形成与天然条件下相似的钙华。本方法用于规模较 大的彩池。水下射流形成的剪切流对绿藻滋生亦有抑制作用。

超临界流方法:超临界流以急速水流冲击静止水体,在流层间切应力的作用下,拖曳下部流 层,使待修复区水体局部或全部成为超临界流(水体流速超过水中波速),弗劳 德数Fr在2以上。本法用于规模小、深度在10cm以下的小型彩池或滩地修复。

Planting
Area survey and boundary marking
Removal of Invasive Species in Entarara Forest
Establishment of Entarara Community Forest Association (CFA)
Development of User Groups for Livelihood Support