Train 60 girls in computer coding in Afghanistan

The end of 2016 brought the end of the Afghan academic year and the break for our teachers in their training. While the teachers and students take their winter break (starting again at school in March), the Womanity team is preparing training for the 2017 - in particular the science training to be held in 2 locations; the National Science Center in Kabul,  and in Panjshir Province).

In 2016, Womanity organized training for 380 participants in total. Pre- and post- tests showed that the average score improved by 44% in their knowledge-levels in the subjects taught with the average post-score results at 70% pass rates. This is indicating a great improvement in knowledge and professionalism that allows teachers in Afghanistan's girls' schools to teach better, and improve the learning and livelihoods of their students. At Womanity, we are delighted by their progress.

The activities for 2016 are were as follows:

- 15 training modules in science in three locations (in the premises of the National Science Centre, in the Malalai-Shahid School in the district of Char Asyeab and in the Gholam Haidar Khan School in Panjshir Province) for a total of 540 hours of training including a total of 244 teachers.

Each training course included 180 hours of teaching divided into five subjects (chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology and environmental science), and each training program spanned 5 workshops;

- four computer science teacher training sessions in Sardar Daud Khan (2), in Spen Kalai (1) and in Malalai-Shahid (1) benefitted a total of 86 teachers;

- one training module in the English language in Spen Kalai School benefitted 24 participants;

- one training module in teaching methodologies and good practice in primary school, including 26 teachers in Wahdat School.

Additionally, Womanity conducted:
- seven workshops on the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) and teaching methodologies for 133 teachers in Al Fatah, Abdullah Bin Omar, Mer Bacha Koot, Sardar Daud Khan, Spen Kalai, Malalai-Shahid and Gholam Haidar Khan Schools;

- seven workshops in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for 153 teachers in Wahdat, Malalai-Shahid Schools, Abdullah Bin Omar, Mer Bacha Koot, Sardar Daud Khan, Spen Kalai, and Gholam Haidar Khan Schools which help girls and staff to stay safe during earthquakes and other emergencies;

- six workshops on First Aid Interventions for 105 teachers in Malalai-Shahid, Abdullah Bin Omar, Mer Bacha Koot, Sardar Daud Khan, Spen Kalai, and Gholam Haidar Khan Schools.

Finally, as in previous years, to complement the science training, Womanity offered one-to-one mentoring sessions in schools. The mentors from the National Science Center visited science teachers directly in their classrooms and labs to address any specific problems or questions related to their daily tasks. This proved an effective method for keeping abreast of the results of the science training and embedding good teaching practices within the schools. A total of 65 sessions (about 520 hours) were organized and 188 teachers mentored in 13 schools Al Fatah, Sardar Daud Khan, Spen Kalai, Wahdat, Khauja Lakan, Naswan Paghman, Abdullah Bin Omar, Qala Malik, Malalai-Shahid, Malalai, Gholam Haidar Khan, Mer Bacha Koot and Paenday Schools.

Womanity could not conduct this work without your great contribution. We look forward to furthering this work in 2017, and conducting more ICT, English and coding training in line with the needs of the schools and opportunities for enhanced livelihooods for high school graduates in Afghanistan. We hope that we can count on your continued support for this work.

Links:

• More about Womanity's educational program in Afghanistan