UPM-Biofore-Magazine-3-2016-EN

Supporting education is one of UPM Foundation’s key focus areas in Uruguay. The Foundation organizes in-service training of teachers together with local education authorities and the Catholic University of Montevideo.

SUPPORTING TEACHER EDUCATION IN URUGUAY The UPM Foundation in Uruguay supports in-service training of teachers in Río Negro Department to update and strengthen their pedagogical skills.

Pablo Rohner on the left.

“In addition to practical tips, the course has provided new theoretical skills I can apply to my everyday work,” says history teacher Pablo Rohner.

“So far, we have discussed various topics andmethods of evaluating pupils. We have also practised new teaching methods and learned to organize students’ learning in a newway,” says history teacher Pablo Rohner , one of 28 participants in the training programme. Rohner works in the village of Nuevo Berlín, which has a population of about 2,500. The local school has roughly 200 pupils. Rohner mainly teaches fourth and fifth year in secondary school. Participants in the two-year training programme teach their normal classes from Monday to Friday, and then travel to Fray Bentos once a month to participate in weekend workshops. “So far, we have gainedmany new ideas from the training. In addition to offering practical tips, the course has provided new theoretical skills I can apply to my everyday work. The UPMFoundation’s support offers us an excellent opportunity to develop our teaching skills,” Rohner adds. The training includes a total of 14 courses. In addition, the teachers complete remote web assignments on laptops provided by the UPMFoundation. Reaching out to rural regions Supporting education is one of UPM Foundation’s key focus areas, says the

In China, UPM is promoting learning and literacy and targeting donations at areas where schools have limited resources to obtain this equipment.

Head Coordinator, Maria Cuevas . “Follow-up training is especially hard to find in the inner parts of Uruguay, as these kinds of classes are usually only available in the capital Montevideo. Our aim is to strengthen the pedagogical skills of teachers.” Co-organized with local education authorities and the Catholic University of Montevideo, the course is the first in-service training programme offered to teachers outsideMontevideo. According to Cuevas, the participating teachers range from recent graduates to experienced veterans. “The teachers selected for the programme are very motivated and have made great progress during the training. They are also committed to helping us for two years after the programme ends, so that future classes

“The focus is on encouraging children to become interested in books and learn to read as early as possible, which in turn accelerates the development of their writing skills. Parents are also encouraged to read stories out loud to act as role models andmotivate their children,” Ibanez adds. The programme is a great success – a survey reports that 84% of parents now read a story to their children every day. Since 2012, over 1,800 children have attended approximately 150 workshops, with almost 500 families involved. In addition to UPMFoundation, the programme is supported by public and private organizations such as theMATE NGO, communal leaders, the teacher education institute of Paysandú and the Department’s education authorities. 

can benefit from their expertise and experience.” The training programme started in autumn 2015, and the first teachers will graduate in the spring of 2017. Sparking interest in books Another key project supported by the UPMFoundation is the Cuenta Quien Cuenta programme supporting new teachers in Paysandú Department. “The Cuenta Quien Cuenta programme is designed to support student teachers working with children in rural areas as well as promoting literature and reading to children and their parents,” says Magdalena Ibanez , Manager of the UPMFoundation. In 2016, nearly 40 student teachers have participated in the training, applying their new skills in practice in 16 schools in Paysandú Department.

In Finland, UPMhas partnered up with the Guides and Scouts of Finland andMe &MyCity. In Germany, UPM supports the Stiftung Lesen reading foundation, which helps to improve literacy among refugee children by donating books and learning materials to refugee centres all around Germany. In China, UPMhas helped to set upmini-libraries in rural schools in Yunnan Province to promote learning and literacy in schools that have limited access to books. Another Chinese project is the Little Scientist Lab, which provides primary schools with laboratory equipment for teaching natural sciences. UPM’s donations are targeted at areas where schools have limited resources to obtain this equipment. The Biofore Share and Care programme focuses on projects that are a natural fit with UPM’s business and responsibility targets. In addition to reading and learning, other focus areas include engagement with communities, responsible water use and boosting bioinnovations.

38 | BIOFORE

3/2016  | 39