During September, 18 secondary school mentors held workshops for implementation of student initiatives, as part of the USAID Youth Ethnic Integration Project, in cooperation with the Center for Vocational Education and Training and the Youth Educational Forum. The workshops were attended by over 200 Civic Education teachers, professional associates and directors from 74 secondary vocational schools that will implement student initiatives and Civic Education Days during the school year of 2021/2022.
During the workshops, participants discussed the benefits of a comprehensive approach to developing students’ civic competencies, the process of organizing and implementing student initiatives, and the role of school management and student support stuff in fostering a democratic school climate. The key topics were enhancing the cooperation with the local community in the implementation of activities for positive change, the role of the Student Community, the management of the processes during the pandemic, etc.
Special attention was paid to the implementation phases of a student initiative in order to successfully develop students’ civic competencies, as well as the importance of flexible planning of activities and opportunities for implementation of student initiatives remotely, with physical presence and by a combined approach.
Workshop participants got acquainted with several positive examples from the schools that implemented student initiatives in the previous two school years, and also obtained useful materials for successful implementation of student initiatives. The teams involved from the schools expressed their satisfaction with the content and readiness to promote the democratic culture in their schools.
After the workshops, the school teams from 74 secondary vocational schools started planning and preparing for the implementation of student initiatives and organizing Civic Education Days during the school year of 2021/2022.
This activity is part of the Youth Ethnic Integration Project, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
This article is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of MCEC and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or the United States Government.
