LocationsFrom Dusty Chalkboards to Digital Technologies - How Schools are Transforming the Educational Process
October 22, 2024
UNDP Uzbekistan
In the heart of Central Asia, on the vast expanses of Uzbekistan, lies Karakalpakstan, captivating with its desert landscapes. Here, in the Kegeyli and Kanlikul districts, among dusty streets and sun-scorched buildings, a quiet revolution in education is taking place, pushing a new generation towards a bright future.
As dawn breaks, the air is filled with the energy of schoolchildren heading to school. Streets resound with laughter and the rustle of backpacks as young minds rush towards knowledge at School No. 1 and School No. 18, which are on the path to educational transformation. Gone are the days of rote learning and monotonous lectures. In their place, new opportunities are emerging, nurtured by the seeds of technology and innovation.
Digital Oasis
At the center of these transformations are the teachers who are becoming drivers of change in education, one of whom is Sharipa Turganbayeva, an English teacher. Her journey, like the arid landscapes of Karakalpakstan, was once fraught with obstacles. “At first,” she recalls, with a hint of nostalgia in her voice, “it was as if we were trying to quench our students” thirst for knowledge with mere droplets when they needed an entire sea of knowledge.”
But then, like a mirage turned reality, the "Smart Class" initiative appeared. This technological oasis, created with the support of the United Nations Development Programme, breathed new life into the learning process for 766 students and 97 teachers at School No. 1 in Kegeyli district and 971 students and 90 teachers at School No. 18 in Kanlikul district of the Aral Sea region. Classroom walls are now adorned with interactive smartboards, displaying vibrant images and engaging tasks. Educational programs such as "MyTest" and "EasyQuizzy" have become new tools in this field, as essential to modern teachers as chalk and blackboard were to their predecessors.
For Sharipa, this digital renaissance has become a true salvation for her as a teacher. "Now," she says, "we conduct an orchestra where each student plays their unique instrument, and educational technologies help me fine-tune their performance."
Where Traditions Meet Innovations
But this story would be incomplete without mentioning Gulnar Aytimbetova, a teacher embodying both old and new schools, whose 26-year journey helps bridge the gap between the old and the new. Gulnar believes that teachers should create conditions for development, learning, and education, acting as mentors.
Thanks to the integration of intelligent technologies, equipped smart classrooms allow school teachers to conduct dynamic lessons with an individual approach to each student. "Today in class, students not only gain knowledge from the curriculum but also learn to think creatively, express their thoughts, and find solutions independently," Gulnar explains.
Nurturing the seeds of development in education, UNDP is committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty, allowing the new generation to choose a worthy future through knowledge. Goal 4: Quality Education serves as a foundation for creating a comprehensive learning system adapted to modern challenges throughout life in conditions of global uncertainty; transforming teaching activities into the roles of creative mentors and facilitators of the educational process. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. Ensuring equal access to educational resources, relevance of curricula and pedagogical methods with the introduction of digital technologies to overcome technological inequality.
To ensure the success of this initiative, UNDP IT experts conducted comprehensive training programs for teachers, teaching them the necessary skills and knowledge for effective use of intelligent technologies in the smart classrooms using modern educational programs adopted for schools, such as "MyTest" and "EasyQuizzy". By providing teachers with these tools, the United Nations Development Programme, together with partners, aims to expand their teaching capabilities, improve the overall educational experience of students, and ultimately contribute to the economic and social progress of the region.
As the school day comes to an end and the golden light of sunset floods the schoolyard, one thing becomes clear: in this region, the future is not just imagined - it is being built, one digital lesson at a time. And for the children of this country, the horizon of opportunities stretches as far as the eye can see, promising a tomorrow limited only by the bounds of their newly discovered potential and the expanses of their digital playground.
