Ten years of Step by Step Program in Latvia
October 2007
In 2007 the Step by Step Program celebrated its 10th anniversary in Latvia. The Anniversary conference “Quality and Equality in Education: 10 Years of Step by Step” was organized in October by the Centre for Education Initiatives (CEI) with support from the Soros Foundation - Latvia. Teachers, school administrators, and university lecturers from all over the country analysed their experience in implementation of this child-centred program and shared their future plans. Representatives of ministries, local educational authorities, and NGOs, as well as guests from abroad, added national and international perspectives to the content of the conference.
The first day of the conference was organized as a workshop and “market” for the ideas offered by teachers from 21 schools and preschools who have received the ISSA Certificate of the Excellence in Teaching. “It was impossible to explore all of the materials, so rich and interesting they are,” wrote one of the participants in conference evaluation form.
Presentations on the second day looked to the future. Prof. Zane Olina, Florida State University (USA), shared a vision of developing the professional community; Guntars Catlaks, Education International (Belgium) and Chair of the Soros Foundation – Latvia, illustrated how close the connections are between open, active, and democratic classrooms and an open, democratic society. Representatives of the network of schools shared their challenges, successes, and future plans in promoting quality of education and access for all children.
The CEI is especially thankful to Aija Tuna, ISSA Program Director, and Emil Buzov, Director of the Bulgarian Step by Step Foundation, who presented the experiences of ISSA and Bulgaria at the conference.
For further information contact Zenija Berzina, Director of the CEI at zenija@iic.lv.
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