Iraqi Teachers Shaping Education Teacher Training Program May 2004 Under the previous regime, the Iraqi education community was isolated from the international community and was not able to participate in educational innovations. As part of USAID’s education program which focused on emergency actions to support the resumption of schools while laying the foundations for critical educational reform, USAID’s teacher training program for secondary school teachers and administrators nationwide was implemented between September 2003 and February 2004 through a set of extended programs that worked from master trainers to secondary to tertiary trainers. The Purpose In support of the Ministry of Education’s effort to upgrade the quality of teaching in Iraq’s classrooms, USAID’s teacher training program laid the foundation for changes in teaching philosophies by encouraging teachers to freely express themselves and participate in decision making on training content. A five day training program included concepts like leadership, critical thinking, mutual respect, freedom of expression and team work. Click here for detailed maps of USAID’s teacher training activities in Iraq Total Teacher Training in Iraq with USAID Funding Disaggregated by Sex Dahuk Teachers 541 Trained # Total Secondary Teachers Trained * IRAQ EDUCATION PROGRAM YEAR 1 (MAY 03-MARCH 04) Teachers Trained 543 # MoE- Iraq USAID- Iraq Ninewa Teachers 1512 Trained # Erbil Teachers Trained Sulaymaniyah Tameem # 740 # Teachers 1416 Trained Teachers Trained 1638 # Salah al-Din Diyala Teachers 954 Trained # N W E S Baghdad Teachers 9243 Trained # Governorate Anbar Babil Baghdad Basrah Dahuk Thi Qar Diyala Erbil Kerbala Missan Muthanna Ninewa Najaf Qadissiya Salah Ad Din Sulaymaniya Tameem Wassit Total of Trainees Master Trainers Grand Total Females 648 1,216 6,325 1,508 246 842 588 299 608 381 226 974 636 652 723 658 419 564 17513 264 17777 Males 978 1,522 2,918 1,587 295 968 366 244 580 372 227 538 492 591 915 758 321 587 14259 596 14855 Total 1,626 2,738 9,243 3,095 541 1,810 954 543 1,188 753 453 1,512 1,128 1,243 1,638 1,416 740 1,151 31772 32632 Teachers Trained Anbar 1626 1151 Teachers Teachers # Kerbala Trained 2738 Trained # # Teachers 1188 Trained # Trained a total of 32,632 secondary school teaching & administrative staff nation wide. Wassit Babylon Teachers Trained 1243 Qadissiya # Teachers Trained 753 # Missan Teachers Trained Najaf Teachers Trained 1128 # Teachers Trained 1810 # Thi-Qar Females Males Muthanna The size of the pie corresponds to the number of teachers trained. Basrah Teachers Trained Teachers 453 3095 # Trained # Dr.Hind Rassam Senior Education Advisor at the teacher training session in Baghdad in February 2004. USAID Photo The Program The teacher training program, which was implemented by USAID’s Revitalization of Iraqi Schools and Stabilization of Education (RISE) program, was developed through a consultative process with the Ministry of Education and the education community. The Ministry of Education, coordinating with the RISE team, spent two weeks conducting cross-country surveys and interviews to determine needs and identify a pool of Iraqi trainers for the teacher training initiative. From September to November 2003, 860 master trainers were trained and in February 2004, 31,772 secondary school teachers and administrators were trained nation-wide. During the training sessions, the teachers discussed lesson plans, learning strategies, classroom management, performance and measurements, punishment and reward, and community-parent-school relationships. Teacher Training Totals Females Males Total Trainee Totals 17,513 14,259 31,772 Master Trainers 264 596 860 100 0 100 200 Kilometers Grand Total 17,777 14,855 32,632 In close cooperation with Iraqi nationals and the Coalition Provisional Authority, USAID is restoring critical infrastructure, delivering healthcare and education services, expanding economic opportunities, and improving governance in Iraq. Laying Foundations for future Education Reform: Teacher Training Special Feature A teacher at the Baghdad teacher training discusses new education techniques. USAID Photo Introducing New Education Techniques In addition to promoting a change in teaching philosophies, the training also had a practical component which introduced new teaching strategies, such as new methods of creating lesson plans. One Iraqi content supervisor said, “I have been a teacher for 30 years and I didn’t expect to change my methods of teaching and class management. I came to training to prove that I do not need any extra training, but frankly after three or four days of training, I have found the new ideas and methods helpful. I also benefited from the exchange of ideas and techniques in my group. When I return to my school, I will share with my colleagues what I learned and encourage them to participate in the training.” Shaping teaching philosophies in Iraq Promoting Education Based on Mutual Respect During the teacher training, participants took part in workshops on classroom behavior, discipline and counseling. In response to these workshops, one teacher stated, "This week I can feel a total change not only in our country and myself but within my whole family. Every day when I left the training, I responded to my children’s misbehavior in the new ways you taught us rather than shouting and hitting them, I sat down and talked to them calmly. I feel that we are free now not only in the way we teach but the way we parent. We must work together as a team to create a new generation of Iraqis”. Encouraging New Ideas An underlying theme of the training was the promotion of a tolerant and democratic atmosphere both in the training sessions and in the classrooms. An Islamic teacher was so inspired by these ideas that he stated, “I would like to teach not only the Islamic religion in our high schools but also teach a course that combines all existing religions in the world. This would promote respect and tolerance of all religions and sects”. He also added, “that ignorance and having the wrong ideas about other religions leads to prejudiced ideas and stereotypes.” Graduation In February, graduation ceremonies were conducted for more than 30,000 teachers and administrators. After receiving his certificates, one teacher stated, “Now I feel free for the first time since the Americans liberated Iraq from Saddam. I never knew what freedom was until I participated in the training this week because I was free to express my opinion without being intimidated. Now I also see that listening and respecting others is part of freedom. You taught us in the workshop about values that with freedom comes responsibilities.” Baghdad Teacher Training Graduation Ceremony United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq/ Iraq Ministry of Education