International workshop
26 August – 7 September 2006
Kabul The IBE, in collaboration with the UNESCO Office Afghanistan and the Ministry of Education of Afghanistan, has carried out a two-week workshop in Kabul focusing on Secondary Curriculum: Processes and Products. The workshop is part of the UNESCO and MoE Programme ‘Reconstruction of the Education System of Afghanistan’ for which the IBE provides technical assistance (secondary curriculum and textbook development). 
The workshop Agenda has offered the participants various plenary and group (hands-on) activities based on which they could delve into essential issues such as developing a consensual vision for secondary education, initiating the technical process of curriculum making and writing, and preparing implementation steps carefully. The 60 participants have developed an improved Curriculum Framework (Grades 7-12) and syllabuses for different secondary learning areas/subjects based on enhanced capacity to engage in learner-centred curriculum design. Mr. Hannef Atmar, Minister of Education, has extensively interacted with the participants and the IBE team (Mrs. Dakmara Georgescu, IBE programme coordinator; Mr. Omar Humos, PhD, Palestine; Mr. Khalil Elaian, PhD, Jordan) and has reiterated that curriculum is the main leverage of rebuilding the Afghanistan society based on providing a good balance between tradition and innovation, and between local and international aspects and dimensions. The workshop has created a momentum for curriculum development in Afghanistan (see Outline of the workshop Report). Mr. Gul Ahmad Saghari, PhD, (participant and facilitator) expressed the views of many Afghan specialists in saying that the workshop outcomes will have a long-term effect on improving education and learning in the country.
