For the past six
years, IFES has been active in Kyrgyzstan in the election process as well as
civil society and civic education. During both the February 2000 elections to
the Jogorku Kenesh and the October 2000 presidential election, IFES conducted
voter education programming, election observer training, media monitoring, and
pollworker training which involved the production of training manuals for all
polling station officials and conducting nationwide training sessions. IFES
mobilized its own observer delegations for both elections, and added to its
reach by recruiting and training a large number of college students (from its
previous Summer Camp and university-election projects) as domestic
observers.
In addition, IFES
worked actively in the sphere of civic education by sponsoring a Democracy
Camp for university students during the summer of 2000 at Lake Issyk-Kul.
IFES continued its work with students by training a group of student
observers to monitor election-day polling in October 2000. IFES then organized
new student council elections based on democratic practices and a more open
electoral process.
In the
post-presidential election period, IFES has been active in the sphere of civic
education by undertaking a textbook and course initiative at the secondary
school level. Following a series of Focus Groups with teachers and students
conducted in May 2000, IFES began work creating a civics textbook and course
for secondary school students. The textbook emphasizes hands-on learning for
students, and includes several interactive exercises designed to stimulate
student participation and interest in civil society and politics.
Following a period of development and discussion with local academics
and the Ministry of Education, IFES piloted the textbook in 22 schools in
March 2001. At the conclusion of
the piloting process in May, a national seminar for participating teachers and
administrators was conducted. Following
these meetings, the textbook underwent adaptations and revisions using
suggestions and recommendations made by local teachers, with plans formed to
pilot a revised edition of the book as part of a civics course in time for the
2001 – 2002 school year. The
textbook will be published in both Kyrgyz and Russian.
In the spring of
2001, IFES successfully conducted its first Student Local Government Day (SLGD)
in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan as part of its Civic Education program.
The SLGD program presented students with the opportunity to meet and
work with officials at various levels of local government.
IFES conducted a poll among students prior to this event to determine
their most common questions and concerns.
Students presented these issues, which ranged from the quality of the
water supply to the lack of a functional heating system, and other concerns of
the community to members of the local Kenesh.
Participating students prepared essays about their experiences with
this program that will be used for evaluation purposes.
Both students and local officials hailed the SLGD as a productive
interaction and an “eye-opening” experience.
During the summer of
2001, IFES/Kyrgyzstan continued its civic education programming by holding two
Democracy Summer Camps (DSC) jointly with local NGO and education partners.
The first DSC took place at Issyk-Kyl, for students from the northern regions,
of the country, with the second in Osh geared to students from the southern
regions. During both Camps students gained practical experience in the virtues
of representative democracy, and developed newfound appreciation of the
importance of tolerance and understanding of diversity.
The program also included training in the organization of political
parties, with students forming their own political parties based on ideologies
assigned to them. Students also received instruction on gender equality and
other issue areas of important. The Camps provided an opportunity for students
to develop new leadership skills while they gained a new, hands-on perspective
on the importance of democracy, human rights, electoral freedoms, and equality
and justice for all. It is IFES’ hope that such Camps can be made
sustainable for future years, with local NGO partners developing the capacity
to conduct these events regularly.
Currently,
IFES/Kyrgyzstan is introducing its high school Civic Education course to
students in pilot schools around the country. The course features an
interactive textbook, with a similar, CD-rom based initiative planned for
select universities. Other
ongoing activities include the student-oriented Student Action Committee (SACs)
and Student Local Government Day (SLGD) projects.
In October 2001, IFES/Kyrgyzstan’s civic education program achieved a
milestone as IFES signed a comprehensive Protocol of Understanding (PoU) with
the Kyrgyzstan Minister of Education and Culture, Ms. Kamila Sharshekeeva,
agreeing formally to introduce the IFES-developed course and related into the
Kyrgyzstani school curriculum. US
ambassador John O’Keefe was IFES’ special guest and representative at the
signing ceremony. With such support from the Ministry of Education and the
U.S. government organizations, IFES aims not merely to introduce a new civic
education course into the educational system of Kyrgyzstan, but to present a
new teaching approach. The conclusion of the comprehensive PoU with the
Ministry of Education and Culture is providing the necessary mandate and
backing needed to assure that the course and related projects will continue
well into the future.