We have approved a grant of GBP131,736 to the Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey (TEGV) for a project to support science education of children aged from six to 14 years. The TEGV’s mobile learning unit, Science Firefly will travel to disadvantaged schools in Turkey to supplement existing science programmes with an engaging and inspiring science curriculum.
Ayse Inan, International Projects Manager of the TEGV says: “Science education is failing in Turkey, as shown by the country’s performance in the OECD’s PISA exams. In the 2012 PISA, Turkish students were ranked 44th out of 65 countries in science, making Turkey lower ranked than almost all EU countries, North America, and East Asia.
“This project aims to inspire a love of science in children, train teachers in innovative, child-centered teaching techniques in the field of science, and encourage community involvement through the engagement of volunteers.”
The TEGV focuses on serving marginalised, low-income, isolated and poorly educated populations and the two-year Science Firefly project will reach out to these communities.
Over the two-year project period, the TEGV will aim to deliver the science programme to 3,120 children aged from seven to 14 years and train 60 teachers and 72 volunteers in the innovative methods and materials used in the science education programme. In each community, the project will provide training, tools and materials that will promote quality science education.
Professor Richard Clegg, Managing Director of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, says: “The Science Firefly project fits in well with the Foundation’s strategic theme of promoting advancement of skills and education by inspiring the next generation in science subjects. The project demonstrates sustainability with a positive impact beyond the project period. The training given to teachers and volunteers will enable them to continue using the education programme, approach, and materials after the mobile unit has left. The project will also leave materials behind for every school as well.”
After the two-year launch period, TEGV plans to continue running the Science Firefly programme, reaching as many disadvantaged schools and inspiring as many children as possible.
About TEGV
Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey (TEGV) was founded by a group of industrialists, managers and academics in 1995, with the aim of supporting the basic education provided by the government.
The objective of the TEGV is to create and implement educational programmes and extracurricular activities for children aged 6-14, so that they can acquire skills, knowledge and attitudes supporting their development as rational, responsible, self-confident, peaceable, inquisitive, cognisant, creative individuals, who are against any kind of discrimination, respect diversity and are committed to the basic principles of the Turkish Republic. TEGV implements unique educational programmes, with the support of its volunteers, in the Education Parks, Learning Units, Firefly Mobile Learning Units, City Representative Offices and in primary schools through the ‘Support for Social Activities Protocol’.
As an organisation, TEGV has a twenty-year track record of success, having served almost 2 million children, with the support of over 60,000 volunteers, throughout all the regions of Turkey.