1014 



S-60 

 V.2; Teaching of Science and Technology 



Assessment/Potential Impacts 



UNESCO has devoted considerable attention to the improvement of the 

 teaching of science and technology, particularly at the secondary school 

 level, over the past 25 years. The products of "in-school" work are of 

 value to all countries although most of the efforts are directed toward 

 the needs of developing countries. This program is administered in the 

 Division of Science, Technical, and Vocational Education under the 

 Assistant Director General for Education. It is a program concerned 

 with the development of science and technology teaching materials (net- 

 works and documentation services, course content development, training 

 workshops, technical advisory services) and their dissemination 

 (extension courses, clubs and summer canps, out-of-school projects) . 

 The total program budget (staff and projects) plus overhead is about 

 $5 million per year--the U.S. contribution is about $1.25 million. 

 Considering only program costs ($3 million) , the U.S. contribution is 

 $7 50,000 per year. Support from "outside" sources totals about 

 $2.4 million per year. 



The improvement of secondary school science education through the 

 development of course content materials and teacher training is impor- 

 tant throughout the world. Initial work in this area at UNESCO, 

 inspired by U.S. scientists, was carried forward by a particularly able 

 staff unit, originally established within the science and technology 

 component of the Secretariat. This responsibility has since shifted to 

 the Education Directorate. 



U.S. scientists and science educators have been actively involved 

 in UNESCO-sponsored course content development projects and teacher 

 training activities in many countries and regions. An impressive 

 example of this participation is the Institute for the Promotion of 

 Science and Technology Teaching in Thailand funded by UNDP and admin- 

 istered by UNESCO, where Americans have participated for over 10 years. 

 Other examples of American involvement in this area are projects in the 

 Middle East and in China. 



Another important area of work of value to the United States is the 

 support and encouragement given to establishing an information network 

 on the teaching of science and technology in liaison with the Interna- 

 tional Bureau of Education. The activities of the affiliated Interna- 

 tional Clearinghouse on Science and Mathematics Development located at 

 the University of Maryland are of national as well as worldwide impor- 

 tance. 



With respect to the current UNESCO program, increased support 

 should be provided to subprogram V.2.1, concerned with the Development 

 of School Teaching of Science and Technology (the qualification of out- 

 of-school in the UNESCO program title is inappropriate and should be 

 deleted). The work on so-called out-of-school projects, V.2. 2 is of 

 questionable value. 



