DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, December 8. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $40 million grant to assist the government of Tajikistan in enhancing the teaching and studying of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in secondary education, Trend reports.
As per the bank, this initiative includes raising awareness about climate change and encouraging girls' involvement in STEM subjects.
The project aims to improve STEM teaching methodologies for grades 5 to 11, employing a skill-based approach that helps students develop critical analysis and collaboration skills, enabling them to address real-world issues.
It involves training STEM teachers and upgrading educational materials. Twenty schools in four regions of the country will undergo modernization, along with improved school management. Climate change-related topics will be incorporated into STEM curricula and learning materials.
The initiative will have a direct positive impact on 11,500 students, with 5,600 of them being girls. Furthermore, it will benefit around 4,000 STEM teachers, education specialists, school administrators, and communities within the project implementation areas.
“Enhancing STEM education is vital for preparing students for sectors such as transport, manufacturing, and construction, which will contribute significantly to poverty reduction and sustainable development in Tajikistan,” ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Eugenue Zhukov said.
The partnership between the ADB and Tajikistan dates back to 1998. ADB has provided Tajikistan over $2.5 billion in assistance to Tajikistan since then.