On 16^th May Teachers Union, Sindikata e Bashkuar e Arsimit, Shkencës dhe Kulturës (SBASHK) in cooperation with USAID Basic Education Program organized an “Educational Film Evening” in Suva Reka. This time the movie, “Ahead of the Class”, was screed, a dramatic television film based on real-life events. More than 70 Teachers from Suva Reka region gathered at “Shkendija” primary school in Suva Reka to see this movie, followed by a panel of discussion on the movie theme.

Sadik Shala, Head of Teachers Union in Suva Reka, holding a speech during Educational Film Evening.

Teachers and other audience at Educational Film Evening in Suva Reka.

“It was a very good event where we learned new things …. The cooperation with students was very good. I…The teachers kindness with students gives results. Inthe beginning of the movie the school, and its environment were not very good, therefore it affected the students. I liked the school director that made active spoiled students, by giving to them different tasks, in order to get them away from bad actions and behaviors” – said Jaldeze Shala teacher from “Flamuri i Arberit” Rishtan, Suva Reka

Educational Film Evening discussion time.

Educational Film Evening discussion time II.

“I watched it with lots of interest from the beginning and it had lots of things that made me impressed. As a positive impression was the persistence of school director that in any way wanted to have a success and to improve the behavior of students at her school and outside of it. While as a bad impression for me were the teachers who gave up in front of bad behavior of some students, where some of the teachers even resigned form their workplace” Bajram Rraqi teacher from “Dëshmoret e kombit” school in Vraniq, Suva Reka.

Ardian Thaqi-Communications officer during opening speech at Educational Film Evening.

Educational-Film-Evening-discussion-pannel.

“It was a movie that I watched it for the first time. We were impressed by the woman empowerment, where the school director tried hard to make a progress at her school for the education of students. Even though there were some spoiled students, she tried to involve them in different activities in order to involve them in the right way of learning process”. Shyrete Delijaj teacher from “Shkendija”school in Suva Reka

Further Educational Film Evenings will be organized by SBASHK in other municipalities during the year. You can learn more about this and other USAID’s Basic Education Program activities at www.bep-ks.org or www.facebook.com/bepkosovo .

On 25^th April the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), USAID Basic Education Program and USAID Young Entrepreneurs Program organized an Educational Technology Exhibition, a one-day exhibition of teaching and learning aids available for schools. Primary school students demonstrated the use of modern technology introduced by USAID and businesses that provide educational technology displayed their products. A wide range of educational technology was shown, from “low-tech’ teaching aids such as plastic bricks and activity cards to robotics and control technology.

Students experimenting with lego robots and control boxes

Educational Technology Exhibition

USAID Mision Director holding a speech at the opening ceremony

At the exhibition opening, the USAID Director Maureen Shauket said, “This exhibition is very important, it can start a process to identify those curriculum areas where investment in educational technology will give greatest benefit to both individual student and to the country. This event can also help local companies identify opportunities for innovation, so that schools are able to procure what they need locally and Kosovo can prosper. A good quality education is the backbone and driver of Kosovo’s economic growth”.

A student explaining to USAID Mision Director the way how we can use technology at Educational Technology Exhibition

Drita Kadriu, Adviser of the minister of MEST, holding a speech at the opening ceremony of Educational Technology Exhibition

Drita Kadriu, Advisor to the Minister, (MEST) said “based on the Education Strategy we are conscious that our students, the 21^st century students, should develop research skills to increase their new knowledge in a way that they can be equal with all the students around them, in the region or globally. These expectations are not an illusion but concrete and we can see that every day through the Program’s activities in the field. In the name of the Ministry, I wish all the success to the program and we expect that we will continue together to invest in technology which is so important for our educational system”.

The exhibition of education technology was an opportunity for local companies producing equipment for schools to showcase their products and an opportunity for entrepreneurs to identify opportunities in the market place. If a local market for educational technology develops, then the MEST and schools will be able to buy cost-effective equipment that will improve student learning and local companies will benefit.

“I think that this was a very much needed event for our country where the visitors can see lots of materials that they could have in their schools, in their classrooms so that teaching could be easy and more fun for students” said Arlinda Thaqi a teacher participant at the Exhibition.

Display of different kits that can be used for practical learning

Student experimenting with robot at the Educational Technology Exhibition

“This was a wonderful opportunity to see the progression in information technology. Technology plays an important role in the development of education, in this exhibition we had the opportunity to see some of the ways on how this technology could be applied. Also, we had an opportunity to see students and teachers very eager to apply this technology in the field of education” said Argjend Osmani, IT Advisor (MEST).

During exhibition, Fjolla Morina, a student of Elementary School “Gjergj Fishta”, used a flip camera and conducted interviews with participants and companies  that were part of exhibition. Below you can click and watch those interviews:

Fractions , Innovation Lab Kosovo, Intel, Green Clubs, Students Technical Support Club, Reading stand, Mathematics stand, Classroom makeover stand, Company Tekfuze, Technology stand, Video camera stand, Assesment stand, Website stand

The exhibition was open for educators and the general public allowing them to see the advantages of using practical learning aids and technology in education. The event also attracted media attention from National TV stations and newspapers visited.   To find out more about USAID’s Basic Education Program and its activities please visit us at www.bep-ks.org or www.facebook.com/bepkosovo .

Students-during-presentation-on-Earth-Day-activity.Place-Germia-Park.Pristina.

Students-survey-with-the-visitors-on-Earth-Day-activity.Place-Mother-Teresa-str.Pristina.

For Earth Day, the activities were coordinated with those of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Kosovo Security Force and the Municipality of Pristina. The students and their teachers organized 5 activities designed to involve interactive participation by people visiting the site:

• A Recycling area where students together with a local environmental company demonstrated a plastic bottle crusher to the visitors and described their recycling activities;
• A Painting area where students and visitors could paint motifs related to the Earth Day;
• A Face Painting area for children, where students and their parents painted earth related symbols on visiting children;
• A Recycled Paper and Plastic area where students have created objects from recycled paper and plastic. Art and craft products included birds, flowers, globes and hearts.
• A Green Information Center where students advised visitors on environmental issues and facts.

Student-face-painintg-on-Earth-Day-activity.Place-Mother-Teresa-str.Pristina.

Students-3-Rs-on-Earth-Day-activity.Place-Germia-Park.Pristina.

Students-painting-on-Earth-Day-activity.Place-Germia-Park.Pristina

Students presenting the Bottler Crusher to the Mayor of Prishtina on Earth Day activity

The same activities were organized on both days, but activities took place in different locations, On April 21^st activities took place on “Mother Theresa Square” in the center of the city, and on 22^nd, in the popular “Germia Park”.

“It is a very good activity for the celebration of Earth Day … I think that we should everyday act in this way in order to protect the environment and to recycle for the benefit of the environment and society. I think that also, schools with the help of teachers, the school director, students and organizations like USAID can organize different events and activities for increasing the awareness of the citizens to protect the environment. I liked the most the plastic bottle crusher” said Antigona Haxhiu a visitor.

Maureen Shauket, USAID Director in Kosovo visited the Programs’ activity on “Mother Theresa Square” and in Germia Park the students were visited by the Mayor of Pristina, Isa Mustafa, who was delighted with the activity and pleased students by trying the “bottle crusher”.

Celebration of the Earth Day and Global Youth Service Day attracted local media. The activities were filmed and were featured on the main news in RTK, KTV, RTV21, KLAN Kosova, and Rrokum TV.

Shkëndije Nagavci and Laura Pruthi presenting their project to the visitors.

On 23^rd of March, 2012, Shkëndije Nagavci and Laura Pruthi, teachers from “Zekeria Rexha” Primary School in Gjakovo, were voted third place in the Teachers Prize at the European Innovative Educators Forum in Lisbon Portugal. This qualifies them to attend the Microsoft Global Forum with teachers from all over the world, which this year will be held in Athens in November.

In February, the two teachers won first prize in a national competition organized by USAID’s Basic Education Program, Microsoft Partners in Learning and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. This qualified them for the visit to Lisbon, which was funded by Microsoft and the Municipality of Gjakova. The pair were in competition with over 80 participating projects from throughout Europe. Their project, “Fractions everywhere”, involved a range of innovative practical activities to help their students get a better understanding of a mathematical topic they had found difficult. Not only did the students improve their mathematical knowledge and skills but they found that mathematics can be fun. The work of the teachers was even more impressive, bearing in mind that their school was closed for two weeks due to heavy snowfall in the months before the competition.

Fractions everywhere” presentation stand. Photos taken by Laura Pruthi

Teachers Shkëndije Nagavci and Laura Pruthi with their prize

On 8^th of March, USAID’s Basic Education Program joined thousands of celebrations, events and rallies around the world to mark International Women’s Day.  Sixty girls from 16 primary schools came together for a girls and technology day. The girls eagerly engaged in experimenting with different forms of educational technology coupled with conducting online research of their career interests and the connections to technology. These students were assisted by peers from other primary schools that have Program-supplied educational technology equipment in their own classrooms.

USAID Mission Director, Maureen Shauket, addresses the girls encouraging them to pursue their dreams

Naim Frasheri (Pristina)students demonstrate their programming of the robot

Girls from schools across Kosovo pose with Ms. Shauket

The event was honored by a visit from USAID’s Kosovo Director, Maureen Shauket as well as other USAID officials.  The girls demonstrated their animated stories created by the use of the Alice software program; they explained how they programmed robots, and what they learnt about the function of a control box in traffic light operation.  In an address to the assembled group, Ms. Shauket complimented the girls on their activities and emphasized the importance of pursuing one’s ambition:

“I had lots of meetings today but the meeting here with you has been the best. I am impressed with the work that has been done. Since I was a little girl I liked Math and Science. So I continued to like it also in secondary school. Therefore I continued to study it and to realize my dream. Likewise, it is very important to follow your dreams and ambitions. I talked with some of the girls and I was very happy when they told me their wishes for their future careers. Today I also had meetings with lots of women’s groups which informed me for their entrepreneurship efforts. So I would like to say again if you like something, you have to follow your dream, in order to realize it and become successful in your life”.

Deshmoret e Drenices (Drenas) School show their animated story created using the program, “Alice”

Ms Shauket adds her signature to the event’s banner

Mati Logoreci (Prizren) students explaining how traffic lights operate through control box technology

Students were delighted that they had the opportunity to present their new skills in educational technology to Ms Shauket. During the day’s closing session, the girls shared their career research findings ranging from fashion design, to dentistry, to education.

Student Kaltrina Murturi from “Hilmi Rakovica” Primary School said;

“I really liked the event today. We met with lots of friends and we created new friendships. The most important was the work using educational technology. We practiced using robots, researched a career on the internet, worked with a design challenge and created a story using the Alice program. We learned something for the future we didn’t know, and especially by using Alice program we learned how creative we can be, and that we can create different videos, birthday cards, etc. We are very motivated to work with technology and we really liked it, but these initiatives miss in our schools since we don’t have equipment or budget to do these activities. We would like to thank USAID’s Basic Education Program for this great event”

Students creatively and successfully meet the lever design challenge

Chosen careers and the connections to technology researched by students from Gjon Serreci (Ferizaj) School

Inez Andrews, USAID’s Senior Education and Youth Advisor, learns about the functions of robots from Asdreni (Peja) students

Teacher Gezime Bajrami from primary school “Green School” said;

“Today at this activity for 8^th of March we had a great time, since the organization for today’s event was very good, with lots of activities which made the day special”.

International Women’s Day is a tribute to the economic, political and social accomplishments of women around the world and an opportunity to raise awareness about women’s rights, women’s empowerment and to promote gender equality.  Although impressive life changing advances have been made since the first March 8^th events in 1911, there is still a substantial way to go—especially for women and girls in developing countries. Equal rights and access to education are of great relevance to achieving gender equality in Kosovo as well as growing its economy.

Teachers, USAID officials and BEP staff pause for a group picture

Teamwork makes for successful completion of the task

Creativity on display by students from Shtjefen Gjecovi (Janjeve) School

To find out more about USAID’s Basic Education Program and its activities please visit us at www.bep-ks.org or www.facebook.com/bepkosovo .

BEP-Microsoft Innovative Educator Forum. MEST representative making remarks during the forum.

The USAID Basic Education Program, Microsoft Partners in Learning and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has organized the first “Microsoft Innovative Educator Forum” an event where teachers shared innovative educational projects they have organized in their schools.

Teachers from seven schools in Kosovo shared their projects in an exhibition held before the awards ceremony.

Two teachers from Macedonia presented their project “Grandma’s Games” which won the first prize in the 2011 European contest and came second in the Global contest. The Forum was joined, via video conference, by teachers from Lithuania who were holding their own national Forum.

Schools displaiy

Schools displaiy -2

Geomethric Family

This forum also involves a competition for teachers at National, European and International level. The projects were judged by a panel of experts from USAID, Microsoft, Basic Education Program and by their colleagues. The winners of this year’s forum are;

The winning team and the "fraction wall"

First place: “Të argëtohemi me thyesa” (Have fun with fractions)- “Zekeria Rexha” primary school in Gjakova

Teachers engaged:     Shkëndijë Nagavci,Laura Pruthi

Second place:            “Familja Gjeometrike” (Geometric Familly) – “Zekeria Rexha” primary school in Gjakova

Teachers engaged:     Majlinda Haxhikadrija, Pakize Shkololli

Third place: “Ushqimi i shendetshem” (Healthy food) – “Yll Morina” primary school in Gjakova

BEP MIEF, Arsim Iliazi Coordinator for Education Technology during interview

Teachers engaged:     Ilirjana Spahija, Rajmonda Kurshumlia, Ilir Bytyqi,

Ardiana Cërmjani, Valdete Bicurri, Natyra Byci – Kaja, Erzen Vala.

Also the project “Interactive Classroom” was awarded a special prize as the project with most advanced usage of the Technology.

“We are pleased with the participation on this forum, and encourage everyone to use the opportunity that the forum provides. It’s a very interesting experience, this is the first time we did something like this” said Rajmonda Kurshumlija teacher from “Yll Morina” primary school in Gjakova.

BEP staff and the winning projects representative in the mirning show at RTK.

The winning project “Have fun with Fractions” will represent Kosovo for the first time in the European Microsoft Innovative Teachers Forum that will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, 21-23 March 2012. The forum had very good media coverage, two local TV station RTV21 and TV KLAN set this event on their main news. Also, on the 25^th of February the Program’s Educational Technology Coordinator and Shkëndije Nagavci, a teacher from the winning project were guests of the live TV program, “Good Morning Kosovo” in RTK.

You can learn more about this and other USAID’s Basic Education Program activities at www.bep-ks.org or www.facebook.com/bepkosovo.

On 21^st February, at the “Green School” in Pristina, USAID’s Basic Education Program invited students from different parts of Kosovo to celebrate the “International Mother Language Day”, the theme was “Voices of Kosovo” – value your own mother language while appreciating the language of others!. Working in groups with students of different languages, the students had the opportunity to present different words in their own mother language and also to learn new words from other languages from their peers. Students used an exciting computer application called “Wordle” to make designs using the words they identified. They were shown photo images to help them create the word designs. They then printed out their designs to create a ‘Wall of Words”.

The event was visited by Dr. Ramë Buja, Minister, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology who told the students, “My message is to learn your mother tongue, still will have the opportunity and ability to learn other languages”.

The school was also visited by Maureen Shauket, USAID/Kosovo Mission Director who said that bringing together students from different backgrounds and cultures in events as this discourages assessment of the differences between us. “Think about how boring it would be if all of us would be speaking the same language and have the same identity”. Roberta Mahoney, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator, who also attended, remarked, “International Mother Language Day reminds us of the value of our own language and culture”.

To celebrate this day with the public the program placed a half page advertisement in a local newspaper, the Ad was designed by the students of the primary school “Bedri Gjina” from Mitrovica.

International Mother Language Day is observed every year to promote the richness of voices around the world. It was first promoted by UNESCO. The United Nations recognized the important role of language diversity in making 2008 the Year of International Languages. Countries that celebrate the day now determine a theme for each year and encourage all citizens to be involved.

Around 60 participants were present at the event including MEST officials, USAID representatives, municipal officials, school directors, parents, media and Program staff

On 10^th February, USAID’s Basic Education Program organized a promotional event at the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MEST ) to launch its ‘Classroom Makeover’ guide book. The book contains practical examples and photographs from the 30 minute programs recently broadcast on national television as well as additional ideas from international and local experts. The Program’s “Classroom Makeover” activity is intended to;

• raise awareness of the need to improve the learning environment in primary classrooms
• demonstrate how schools, parents and  local communities can do this; and
• offer practical advice  on cost-effective  ways to make classrooms more effective learning environments.

The Basic Education Program plans to assist 100 schools to undertake classroom renovations by providing them with basic materials and technical advice. However, the guidebook will be distributed to all primary and lower secondary schools, in Kosovo and will help all schools to organize their own renovations and create a better learning environment, in cooperation with parents and the local community. The guidebook will also be used as a resource for the training of teachers and school boards.

Certificates were handed over to directors of seven schools that undertook classroom makeovers on their own initiative

The book launch took place at the MEST presentation room from 11:00 to 12:30. Around 60 participants were present at the event including MEST officers, USAID representatives, municipal officials, school directors, parents, media and Program staff. The event was addressed by Mr. Nehat Mustafa – Deputy Minister of the MEST, Mrs. Elizabeth Santucci – the Deputy Economic Growth Officer from USAID, Mr. Bajram Beqiri – the President of the Kosovo Parent Education Committee (KPAK), and the Program’s Chief of Party. Certificates were presented to the directors of seven schools who undertook ‘classroom makeovers’. School directors from Decan and Vushtrri described the impact of the activity on their schools.

The Program’s consultant for classroom makeover activities presented the next steps and he event ended with a cocktail and distribution of the ‘Classroom Makeover’ guide book. to participants. A report on the event was posted at the MEST website http://www.masht-gov.net/advCms/#id=20,1537,1. TV and radio journalists attended the event and it was reported on the evening news in RTK and KTV (Koha Vision).

The movie shown was the Oscar-winning, “Mr. Holland’s Opus”, which tells the professional and personal life of a US music teacher. Themes within the film included: overcoming the professional challenges faced in school with students, school directors and school boards: and how to balance one’s private and professional life.

“It was a magnificent film- stimulating, exciting, emotional, and many times with nostalgia. The message goes to the hard working teachers who are dedicated to their work with lots of effort like we have seen in Mr. Holland in the movie”. – Said Hatmane Haradinaj – Demiri the “Xhavit Ahmeti” school director in Pristina.

“If we make a parallel distinction from the film with the actual situation of education in Kosovo, the film corresponds in many areas such as in: budget, working conditions, organization hierarchy, cooperation with parents and the community”. Jehona Oruqi, Secretary General,Teacher’s Union.

After the screening, teachers had the opportunity to discuss the movie themes with the support of the panel which was composed by two School Directors and the SBASHK Secretary General. A moderator ensured that all the participants in the debate get the equal time for discussion. Teachers could learn from one another during the debates and discussions by sharing their own experiences and views.

Further Educational Film Evenings will be organized by SBASHK in other municipalities during the year. You can learn more about this and other USAID’s Basic Education Program activities at www.bep-ks.org or www.facebook.com/bepkosovo .

“Green Clubs” are one of the innovative ways that USAID’s Basic Education Program is getting students to be more active in their learning, engaging students in practical projects which develop problem-solving competences, creative and entrepreneurial thinking, communication and ICT skills, and involve the use of modern educational technology. These are all key elements of the new Kosovo curriculum.

On 17^th January, the students of the Green Club at “Hilmi Rakovica” Primary School in Pristina invited parents and guests to see their work on environmental issues and recycling. Their guests included, Shpetim Rudi, the Deputy Minister from the Ministry of Environmental and Spatial Planning (MESP), Inez Andrews, USAID Senior Education Advisor and Basic Education Program representatives.  The students led by their teacher, Jehona Oruqi, presented a program which included:

• an art exhibition featuring objects and designs made from recycled paper, as well as posters on environmental issues;
• video films made by the students to highlight environmental issues;
• a demonstration of the recycling systems for paper and waste plastic bottles implemented by the “Green Club”, which sells them to a recycling company, and
• a short play performed by the students.

Jehona explained to the guests how the school had struck a deal with a local recycling company whereby, in return for collecting waste paper, the students will receive special card which they will turn into puzzles as part of a mini-business activity.

Camera teams from two national TV stations, Klan Kosova and RTK, filmed the proceedings and the young actors were asked to repeat their play for the cameras. The message of the play was that living in a more environmentally friendly way is not difficult but requires small changes in thinking, collective behavior and individual, day-to-day practices. Small changes can make a big difference.

The Deputy Minister welcomed the program initiatives and expressed his Ministry’s readiness for cooperation in joint environmental programs and supporting schools in their recycling and environmental activities. USAID’s representative expressed her gratitude to the students for their excellent work and their enthusiasm to take action and bring positive change to their society.

Following the Green Club presentation the guests visited the school’s Technology Room, which has been equipped with modern educational technology by USAID and saw students involved in robotics, control technology and other exciting computer use. The teacher and students told their guests that they were so excited by the new science and technology activities introduced by USAID’s program that they recently came into school for a whole Saturday to work on a science project.

USAID’s Basic Education Program is providing equipment and support to other schools which want to form Green Clubs and undertake recycling and environmental activities. You can learn more about this and other BEP activities at www.bep-ks.org or www.facebook.com/bepkosovo .