ERSAI Caspian Contractor LLC support improves early childhood education in Kuryk village

“Before we were keeping 25-30 children at their desks and taught all of them one topic using the same teaching method. Usually only 4-5 children out of them followed class instructions…

With implementation of Step by Step technology situation improved dramatically! Now there are 5 educational centers and children choose how they want to study certain topic and they rotate among centers. In other words we still teach one topic but in several different ways to a group of 5-6 children in every center. And this approach ensures individual work with children! Now every child is engaged in learning!” 

Marzhan Karzhaubayeva, methodologist, “Kulynshak” kindergarten

When “Growing together!” Initiative on improving early childhood education started in Kuryk village, Mangistau oblast in 2013 the greatest challenge was to improve kindergarten administration and teachers qualifications, develop positive relationship with parents, and introduce modern teaching methods that would engage every child in active learning.

Administrators participated in a series of training workshops that developed their skills in HR management, staff motivation, establishing professional standards for quality teaching, and strategic planning.   

“Kulynshak” kindergarten was one of two pilot kindergartens where Step by Step technology was implemented in 2013. Teachers were given 5 trainings on basic and advanced Step by Step teaching techniques, peculiarities of educational centers, involvement of parents into education of their children. Step by Step experts helped to develop special Step by Step learning environment that substituted traditional education in 3 classes in 2013. As well teachers participated in study tour to the leading Step by Step center in Astana in 2013 and experience exchange with the best Step by Step center in Kazakhstan in Semey in 2015.

In 2013, 2014 and 2015 EFCA and Step by Step experts conducted monitorings and evaluations and made timely adjustments of the performance of Step by Step teachers. As a result the provision of early childhood education in “Kulynshak” kindergarten improved significantly. New gained experience allowed “Kulynshak” team to open 3 new Step by Step classes and train 6 young professionals in 2015 independently.

Today “Kulynshak” kindergarten has more than 20 Step by Step specialists that teach 150 children in a modern and democratic way in child-centered classes and in partnership with parents. More than 60% of children showed motivation to learn, ability to make choice, creativity, positive relationship and cooperation with others, their scope of vocabulary is expanding.