OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities holds regional summer school on multilingual and multicultural education in Central Asia

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors, in co‑operation with the Ministry of Education and Science and UNICEF in Kyrgyzstan, is holding a regional summer school on “Multilingual and Multicultural Education for Integration” from 6 to 11 July 2015 in Cholpon Ata. A total of 75 representatives from educational institutions in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are taking part.

The school will provide practical assistance and expertise related to multilingual education and training materials for integrated subject and language learning. The participants will present their country’s experience in these areas and will attend presentations on the multilingual learning and teaching materials used in Kazakhstan, Estonia, Latvia and other countries. They will discuss how to plan lessons using integrated subject and language learning methodology. They will also acquire knowledge and skills related to forming and developing the cultural competencies of pupils.

The High Commissioner is also organizing a co‑ordination meeting on 11 July 2015 for representatives of the Ministries of Education and Departments of Education, and heads of educational institutions of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The participants will plan activities to promote multilingual education in the region in the second half of 2015.

The High Commissioner previously organized regional schools in 2008, 2013 and 2014, where participants discussed planning and management; teaching a second language and integrated subject and language methodology; and training and professional development of teaching staff in a multilingual school.

Since 2012, the High Commissioner has been implementing the Central Asia Education Programme, aimed at promoting multilingual and multicultural education and developing bilateral and multilateral co‑operation in the region to improve the education of national minorities and promote the integration of society.