OPEN SCHOOL PROJECT

Goal: Institutionalization of concepts and ideas of MFOS Education Program "School 2001" in the educational standards and curricula, in pre-service and in-service teacher training institutions, and into a permanent National Association of Open Schools.

Objectives and outcomes:

Information clearing house for education community
The program continues to support the portal site, which will have more linkages to other Mongolian websites related to education and major international sites such as OECD, World Bank, OSI Education support Program's website, contain key information on education reform issues including legislation, and host websites by schools, teachers and online discussions on different policy issues, some online courses for teachers.

Existing Education information center with 6 regional branches and 72 school based resource centers will be continuously supported further and will be housing information resources related with education reform, disseminating these resources throughout Mongolia where there's no sufficient access to information and online resources.

Curriculum reform of Pre-service teacher education
The program will support Curriculum reform of pre-service teacher education at State Pedagogical University, and its teacher training colleges. In doing this, the program will be focusing not only on curriculum reform of institutions also will promote clinical education through supporting partnerships between teacher training institutions and primary and secondary schools. Also with the support of the Foundation, educational research will be fostered and collaboration of professors of teacher education and school teachers in this area will be nurtured. The project is composed from the following main components:
- Curriculum review at teacher training colleges
- Partnership building between Teacher training colleges and schools for providing quality practicum to future teachers
- Support for site based educational research
Various types of innovative teaching and learning materials that have been developed by School 2001, SBS, Debate, RWCT, Street law and English language programs will be institutionalized at teacher training colleges.

In-service teacher training
School teachers trained within the program, who are officially certified by the Ministry as trainers on curriculum development, interactive child centered teaching methodology and student assessment methods will have offering training with the funding of the Ministry, and with other donor agencies. Support will continue to provide professional development opportunities for trainers assisting them in developing quality training programs, training manuals, handbooks, etc.

Support for development and publication of resource materials for teachers and by teachers
In order to have in place diverse teaching and learning materials, to get progressive interesting materials, to be shared between educators, and most importantly to have upgrade teachers skills for developing their own teaching and learning materials the program will continue to support bottom up approach in improving the quality of such work.

Creation of sustainable institution that ensure effective networking of innovative schools and teachers
The program will form an independent NGO that will be promoting continuous innovation in education through networking of open minded schools keen to change, improve schooling for children; facilitating exchange of innovative ideas, practices between schools and teachers; involving parents and community in making schools truly democratic institutions; ensuring that MFOS partner schools sustain and expand their activity level, also on the other hand sharing their resources, knowledge with community; and assisting the community for being active citizens participating in important matters that related to their well being.