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

The project, implemented by Save the Children in North West Balkans, received funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The primary objective of Phase II of the project is to roll out a STEM program in the selected model schools, with a focus on translating STEM teaching into classrooms during the 2019/2020 academic year. During the period from October to December 2019, ENABLE BiH was widely promoted at educational, business, and public forums across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project organized the first 2-day STEM Fair, "Think. Create. Communicate. Collaborate. Repeat for B&H Education and Economy for 21st Century," which was held on November 19-20, 2019. The event aimed to elevate and popularize STEM education across Bosnia and Herzegovina, unifying participants around a common interest in STEM education. ENABLE BiH also participated in other high-profile public events, including the PISA 2018 Coordination Meetings organized by the Agency for Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary Education of BiH (APOSO) and other international organizations. The project showcased its innovation, quality, and relevance during the European Researchers Night - Let's STEAM: Let's Create New Opportunities, which was held on September 27, 2019, in nine cities and towns throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. The integration of STEM into the current curriculum expanded from 10% in the 2018/2019 academic year to up to 25% in the 2019/2020 academic year. This integration was implemented in 7 model schools in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Entity (Canton Sarajevo and Herzegovina-Neretva Canton) and Brcko District. However, the situation in the 5 model schools in the Republic of Srpska remained unchanged, pending official approval from the RS Ministry of Education and Culture and the RS Pedagogical Institute. The ENABLE-BiH project team continued to hold technical and consultative working sessions with Ministries/Departments of Education in the four regions. The team also supported STEM-PPDM Trainers/Mentors and teachers in Sarajevo Canton, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, and Brcko District. Additionally, the project team met with RS authorities in November and December 2019 to initiate the implementation plan of STEM integration in regular curricula and teaching processes. A day-long refresher session on 3D applications, coding, scratch, and the importance of using STEM equipment was held in August/September 2019 for STEM trainers/mentors and STEM teachers in 7 model schools in Herzegovina-Neretva, Sarajevo Cantons, and Brcko District. The training improved the functioning of 12 STEM Labs for 3,480 students and 196 educational professionals in 12 Model Schools. The project also completed procurement and furnishing for the STEM Centers of Excellences (CeO) in 3 STEM-related universities (Banja Luka, Mostar, Sarajevo) and the Technological Park 'Intera' from Mostar. The official opening of the CeO took place in Mostar on December 6, 2019, and in Banja Luka on December 12, 2019, while the Sarajevo CeO was delayed. Furthermore, the project signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BiH STEM-related companies, including BIT Alliance and AS Holding, and successfully cooperated with Violeta d.o.o. Grude, where more than 100 students and teachers participated in onsite visits. The project team also supported USAID's external impact analysis aimed at examining the results of the ENABLE-BiH project and the effects of the STEM program in schools on students.