• The Step by Step organisation in Moldova organized a nine-day training delivered in three rounds (Module I in February, Module II in April, and Module III in August) with the aim to contribute to the reform of preschool education in the country, based on a child-centered paradigm.

During the first half of the month, ISSA’s member in Moldova, the Step by Step organisation, has been the leading partner in delivering an ambitious training for preschool teachers together with other two NGO’s, the Education Center Pro Didactica and the Speranta Center. The trainings are part of a national project under the Global Partnership for Education and working with the Ministry of Education. “Through three very comprehensive modules, we have provided all kinds of materials and self-evaluation tools for teachers on nine topics we think are essential for a high quality teacher training”, explains Olga Olevschi, from Step by Step Moldova. Apart from this training, the consortium has also delivered workshops for 26 key national trainers and has replicated this experience at regional level, giving the opportunity to learn about these new tools to over 7,000 educators in more than a hundred centers. The overall objective is to reach as many preschool professionals as possible, which can only be achieved through the training of trainers who can then teach others and spread the knowledge all over the country. The mentors or trainers work with support of experts from Step by Step, who monitor the activities developed in each region. The Step by Step organisation has been active in Moldova since 1994, developing educational projects in kindergartens and schools in partnership with families. After almost two decades of work, ISSA’s member in Moldova has trained thousands of educators and its model of education has successfully reached not only children in preschools and primary schools, but also the youngest children (birth to three) as well as children with special needs. ISSA is a vibrant network that connects professionals and non-profit organizations working in the field of early childhood development. Established in the Netherlands in 1999, ISSA’s community today stretches across the globe with its more than 50 members primarily located in Europe and Central Asia. Building upon the Step by Step Program initiated by the Open Society Foundations in 1994, ISSA aims to ensure equal access to quality care and education for all young children from 0 to 10 years old. This mission is implemented through three main pillars of action: equal access for all children; promoting high-quality and professionalism in early years services and empowering parents and communities to be part of the children’s development and learning. For more information on the Step by Step Program in Moldova, please visit the English version of their website http://www.pascupas.md/. http://www.issa.nl/sites/default/files/New_training_for_300_preschool_te...