Project Summary:

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to advancing the quality of education system in the Republic of Moldova through a pilot project conducted in 46 schools in ATU Gagauzia. The pilot will focus on facilitating a smooth and efficient learning process through the implementation of the e-learning approach in ATU Gagauzia and consists of two main components:

1. Ensuring the presence of the basic (hard and soft) ICT infrastructure and connectivity;
2. Enhancing the learning content and teaching methodology;

3. Improve the school infrastructure in order to create modern and safe learning spaces.

Objectives:

• Support schools in the pilot region to become more resilient and ensure business continuity in crisis situations, so to continue providing quality education both in-class and/or online;
• Ensure equal access to education for all students, especially the most vulnerable, by providing access to appropriate ICT equipment and Internet connectivity;
• Improve the quality of education by training teachers on selecting and using appropriate ICT tools and adapting the educational content and methods depending on the teaching medium;
• Increase the attractiveness of STEM disciplines among students and girls in particular;
• Improve the sanitary conditions in at least one school and raise awareness on the importance of correct sanitation practices.

Expected results:

• Pupils, including from vulnerable groups, and teachers in ATU Gagauzia schools have access to ICT devices and internet connection during academic periods;
• Teachers of at least one curricular discipline are able to critically assess, select, and use appropriate ICT tools for blended and online teaching, adapting teaching techniques correspondingly;
• Digital educational materials for at least one curricular discipline are developed;
• The education management platform is selected, adopted and used by at least 40% of pupils, teachers, parents, and school administrations in ATU Gagauzia;
• Renovate the sanitation facilities in at least one school and raise awareness around the importance of personal sanitary practices.

Accomplishments:

• 46 schools were endowed with interactive ICT equipment such as laptops, smartboards, projectors, interactive boards, portable STEM laboratory devices and tablets, to facilitate the modernization of the educational process. Of them, 55 ICT devices are available to be borrowed from schools by pupils from vulnerable families in order to connect to online classes. With project support, the General Education Directorate of ATU Gagauzia has initiated partnerships to endow all schools with fast Internet connection;
• School management system www.studii.md, adopted by all schools from Gagauzia, was upgraded to include 2 much needed modules: school statistics for school administrators, and homework module, which will facilitate homework submission, grading, feedback;
• Extracurricular courses Tekwill in Every School (TIES), developed by Tekwill, have been translated to Russian with the project support and made available in ATU Gagauzia region;
• More than 130 teachers who teach science disciplines (mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, geography) have been trained in digital pedagogy and 50 teachers of physics and chemistry were trained in the use of PocketLabs for teaching;
• Digital educational resources authoring tool www.educatieinteractiva.md extended to include additional templates of resources, a lesson planning tool for teachers, and a mobile app option for Android and iOS. In addition, digital interactive exercises for Physics and Mathematics were created using the authoring tool in order to make learning more engaging and attractive for students. Per total, 952 sets of exercises for Physics and 480 sets for Mathematics were created, of which 50% in Romanian and 50% in Russian. The interactive exercises are available for free to anyone who registers with the platform;
• The Cazaclia gymnasium was endowed with inside sanitary facilities. Two sanitary groups, one for girls and one for boys, were built inside the building, with access to clean, warm water. In addition, the school was equipped with a mini wastewater treatment plant, and benefitted from some energy efficiency measures.