ECOSF at the STEM High Level Policy Forum on Evidence Based Science Education for Developing Countries on 26 and 27 May 2015 at Kuala Lumpur

Go Back

The International Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) High Level Policy Forum on Evidence Based Science Education for Developing Countries was organized by Academy of Sciences Malaysia in collaboration with ISTIC and SEP IAP on 26-27 May, 2015 at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Objective of the forum was to facilitate the integration of a developmental approach into the science technology and innovation (STI) policies, capacity building in STI through providing policy advice and exchange of experience among developing countries. The Forum was opened by Academician Dato (Ir.) Dr. Lee Yee Cheong, Chairman of ISTIC Governing Board and Science Education Programme (SEP) of Inter-Academy Panel (IAP).

The President ECOSF, Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, participated in the forum as a panelist speaker and made a power point presentation on 26 May, 2015. Title of his presentation was; "Strategies for Effective Implementation of IBSE/STEM in the Developing World".

He discussed the current situation of education and issues related to the implementation of IBSE in Pakistan and the ECO region. Based on his experiences, he proposed recommendations and strategic steps for the effective implementation within the country as well as in the ECO region. Based on his experiences in Pakistan and ECO Region, president ECOSF recommended different strategies. He highlighted the importance of ownership by the National Authorities and recommended to politicize IBSE/STEM education as an election issue at all level elections, emphasized on the participation of Scientists, Educations and Intellectuals in political process. He emphasized that the movement of forming Alliances of scientists, artists, educationists, religious scholars, parents, teachers, civil society and media etc. should institutionalize the programme. President recommended that global forums such as SEP, IAP and TWAS should proactively motivate and urge National Academies of Sciences & Engineering to pursue IBSE for teaching STEM. He highlighted that lobbying with donors and linking IBSE-STEM as pre-condition in donor driven projects can strengthen IBSE. US-AID, JICA, CIDA, SDC etc. should include IBSE-STEM as an essential component of development projects.

President ECOSF also recommended that Lobbying and Advocacy for IBSE-STEM should be done at highest level and heads of Governments and States should motivate UN Agencies and Donors (e.g., The World Bank and other Regional Development Banks etc.) to issue Decrees or Directives for initiation and sustenance of IBSE/STEM in their national development programmes.