National counterparts and experts from 14 Member States in the Asia and the Pacific region have recently gathered at the Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology, Jogjakarta, Indonesia, to participate in the Final Coordination Meeting and Planning for Future Project for Introducing Nuclear Sciences and Technology to Secondary Schools. This meeting was held under the regional IAEA technical cooperation project RAS0065 ‘Supporting Sustainability and Networking of National Nuclear Institutions in Asia and the Pacific Region’.
At the meeting, 30 participants, drawn from nuclear energy authorities and education agencies in the Member States taking part in the project, assessed the implementation and impact of the pilot project to introduce the Compendium of Nuclear Science and Technology for Secondary Schools. This has been very successful – the project has helped to empower teachers, and has enriched the education curriculum in participating countries. Most impressively, it has brought nuclear science and technology lessons to over 24 000 secondary level school students.
The pilot initiative, together with a proposed follow up project, provides participating Member States with a clear road map for introducing nuclear science and technology in secondary schools. This road map includes implementation strategies and coordination and follow up actions with appropriate authorities, based on best practices and experiences during the implementation of the pilot phase, which took place in four countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.
Ms Jane Gerardo-Abaya, Section Head in the Division of Asia and the Pacific, IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation, highlighted the importance of strengthening the cooperation of Member States within the region to empower the education community in their efforts to encourage young people to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). “Exciting, innovative approaches to nuclear education like this will ensure that our young people are interested in joining the workforce of the future, particularly in industry, where nuclear sciences and technology have many applications,” she said.
Mr Sunil Sabharwal, Radiation Processing Specialist, IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications noted the key achievements of the pilot countries during the implementation of the first project. “These are clearly visible in the large numbers of beneficiaries, from teachers to students,” he explained. “The pilot project offers a good example for other Member States who wish to implement a similar programme.”
The pilot countries attending the meeting reported that IAEA fellowships and scientific visits have empowered teachers, providing them with appropriate skills and motivation to train fellow teachers and to develop appropriate academic and co-curricular activities for a large number of students, even within the limited duration of the project. This shows the potential of the project approach to effectively reach a large numbers of students, and to inspire interest in nuclear science and technology in younger generations. This will be valuable to Member States who wish to institutionalize nuclear science education within their secondary school curriculum.
The meeting also served as a platform to develop and agree on a proposed new regional project for the 2018–2019 IAEA technical cooperation cycle, which would sustain the results of the pilot initiative and institutionalize the teaching of nuclear science and technology in secondary schools by strengthening regional cooperation and developing guidelines for the development of nuclear education curricula for interested Member States.
Exciting, innovative approaches to nuclear education like this will ensure that our young people are interested in joining the workforce of the future, particularly in industry, where nuclear sciences and technology have many applications.
