Annual Narrative Report: Enhancing and Advancing Basic Learning and Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina – ENABLE BiH

Key activities conducted this year include STEM-integrated teaching implemented in selected model schools, teachers' capacities further strengthened through training and mentorship, three centers of excellence created, an informal STEM education center established, and STEM integrated teaching further promoted. STEM-integrated teaching was implemented in 11 model schools, with 173 teachers supported with capacity-building focused on the practical application of STEM labs in their daily teaching. As a result, five out of seven model schools exceeded the targeted 25% of STEM integrated teaching for annual teaching plans for STEM disciplines for Year II, while two model schools reached 18.25% and 19.42% respectively. More than half of the teachers surveyed reported using STEM teaching approach actively in their classes and extracurricular activities. The project also reported significant changes in students' perspectives about STEM, with more than 90% of surveyed students reporting a change in their perspective, including more positive attitudes and opinions about STEM subjects and STEM careers. Students now enjoy studying STEM classes more and consider STEM careers more often in comparison to the time when their teachers were using traditional teaching methods. Additionally, an informal STEM education center was established, providing additional educational opportunities for 300 children and youths in the Mostar area. The project also promoted STEM integration best practice and project achievements through an online campaign, reaching over 405,000 people with videos, infographics, and success stories. A catalogue of best STEM class lesson plans was compiled and widely shared with the educational community. However, the implementation of programming in model schools in Republika Srpska was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the project team had to adapt to the new situation by implementing STEM-integrated teaching on an extracurricular basis only. The COVID-19 outbreak led to a lockdown and the closure of educational institutions in mid-March, affecting direct project implementation to a certain extent. To tackle these challenges, COVID-19 adaptation activities were presented to the donor in the Activity Risk Mitigation Plans. These plans included online meetings and webinars, the use of 3D printers donated through ENABLE BiH for the creation of personal protective equipment for frontline workers during the COVID-19 initial lockdown, organization of different online STEM competitions in schools, and procurement of IT equipment, and distribution of PPE and hygiene products for schools and universities. The project team continued supporting the USAID externally planned impact analysis aimed at examining the results of the ENABLE-BiH project and the effects of the STEM program in schools on students as per the methodology agreed by the Center for Development Evaluation and Soci. The project also established relationships with a number of leading local companies and signed agreements with them, which will be leveraged for further promotion of STEM professions and STEM education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.