STEP BY STEP PROGRAM

Program introduction
Step by step program has been focusing on the methodology reform of the Pre School and primary education system for children 0-10 years at classroom level, since 1998. The number of kindergartens participated in the program increased to 53 in Ulaanbaatar and the provinces 8,500 children in 267 classrooms with a child centered methodology.

The overall goal of the Step By Step program is to support development of child-centered, individualized teaching methodology in Mongolian preschool and primary education, increase parent and community involvement in their children's education and establish high quality, self-sustaining Step by Step training programs accredited as an alternative teaching methodology and available to all teachers and schools.

Currently, the program is focusing on providing policy support and incorporate aspects of the Step-by-Step program into the official preschool and primary education curricula, the pre- and in-service training curricula and students' practicum, facilitating, where it is appropriate, incorporation of the Step-by-Step classroom environment, teaching methodology, and introducing child-centered teaching methodology to the broader preschool and primary school community, promoting parent involvement into the overall preschool and primary education.

1. Policy support
In accordance with the agreement with MOSTEC, the Step-by-Step program has been broadly involved in the development of new national standards for preschool education. The Step-by-Step Program Coordinator was included into the working group to revise the Preschool Education and Primary Education Content Standards. The prepared draft Standards document was reviewed by Patricia S. Miller, International Step-by-Step Program Trainer and professor of the Charleston College, North Carolina, USA, and the final version of the Standards which incorporated recommendations of the expert has been handed over to the MOSTEC. Besides, the Step-by Step Program Coordinator was involved in the development of the Preschool Environmental Standards. All that resulted in integration of concepts and features of the International Step-by Step Program Standards in Mongolian preschool standards.

As a part of the policy support to MOSTEC, a two day training on Preschool Education Program & Project Monitoring and Evaluation was conducted by Shelley de Fosset and Patricia Miller, trainers from the USA, in March 2003. The training involved national trainers and evaluation team members; training materials and handouts were prepared and distributed.

Step by Step program will continue to support MOSTEC in developing policy documents on preschool and primary education, conducting trainings for specialists and will provide consultancy and technical assistance.

2. Institutionalization
The main partner in institutionalizing Step by Step methodology into pre-service teacher education is the Teacher Training College in UB that trains preschool teachers. Child-centered concepts have been institutionalized at TTC by incorporating program methodology into teacher education course curricula and improving student teaching practicum at model sites.

Focus has been on integrating the TTC project into overall pre-service teacher education reform project "Teacher-2005" of MFOS and establishing partnership between preschool teachers and faculty members. Currently five TTC faculty members and four kindergartens are involved in the national team of the project "Teacher-2005". Several SBS kindergartens have been selected as lab schools for TTC students' practicum.

SBS program supported development of new educational curriculum and teaching practice guidelines for the TTC. Its course curricula and educational content have also been revised and improved with support of the SBS mentor. Besides, the faculty received training on inclusive education in March 2003 and was encouraged to continue incorporating inclusive education into their curricula. Special attention was paid to the new initiative of teaching Inclusive Education course to students-the teacher received valuable comments and suggestions for improving her teaching.

3. Network of SBS schools
In order to expand collaboration and linkage between preschool and primary education the Step-by-Step program announced a grant competition among partners schools. SBS national trainers and teachers meet twice a month and that facilitates networking, information exchange and strengthens capacity of teachers.

4. SBS Standards
National trainers have been contracted to provide assistance to teachers, schools and kindergarten in order to accelerate implementation of the International Step-by-Step Standards and Teacher Standards. The following activities have been organized:

· Advocacy trainings to promote the standard to all Step-by-Step Program schools, kindergartens, teaches and parents have been conducted

· All teachers' performance has been assessed in accordance with the Teacher Standards and their teaching observed, individual and group meetings have been held to resolve the problematic issues.

Technical assistance has been provided to revise and publish training modules developed by national trainers on main topics of child-centered methodology. It resulted in the boosted reputation of trainers and increased interest of local and international agencies and educational institutions in receiving tailor-made trainings offered by national trainers.

5. Newly funded projects
Further expansion of the Step by Step program in Mongolia through focusing on young children not enrolled in preschool education and rendering support to the implementation of the National Programmer for Preschool Strengthening -2 resulted in the project "Teachers as First teachers" that covers 2500 households and 5000 children from 99 bags of 19 soums in Arkhangai aimag. A complex educational curriculum has been developed within the project and the first aimag training is expected to be held on May 12-17, 2003, in Arkhangai aimag.
The Step by Step Program jointly with National Trainers will assists in the project management.

The children's library project "Wisdom Palace" is intended to facilitate various leisure activities among parents with focus on their children's development, appropriate use preschool children's leisure time and teaching them appropriate skills needed for working with their children. The project activities will be conducted jointly with the State Children's Library. Currently the library venue is being restored and refurbished. The launching of the Library will take place in May 2003.