Empowering trainers for piloting Civic and Voter Curriculum in Lesotho

The workshop moved participants from orientation and non-partisan civic framing to curriculum unpacking, lesson design, participatory classroom methodologies, assessment design, micro-teaching rehearsal and district level cascade planning. The workshop improved capacity of the selected trainers and teachers by equipping them with knowledge, facilitation competencies, planning tools, confidence and assessment approaches to deliver the pilot rollout in selected schools. The Trainers during the workshop became both educators and evaluators, assisted in facilitating learning sessions while improving the curriculum’s clarity, relevance, effectiveness, context and suitability in promoting democratic participation and inclusion.

International IDEA in partnership with Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) through the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) held the 5-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop at Avani Hotel. The TOT workshop participants included subjects' specialists, curriculum experts, representatives from the NCDC and Examination Council of Lesotho (ECOL), Lesotho Training Development Centre (LTDC) and representatives from the National University of Lesotho (NUL) and Lesotho College of Education. The workshop included representatives from Institutions of Higher Education.

The TOT workshop trained a cohort of master trainers, employing participatory approaches (pedagogical) to strengthen their capacity to spearhead the curriculum pilot in the 10 selected schools. The TOT workshop enhanced the master trainers in facilitating teaching and improving knowledge on the integrated civic and voter education curriculum. Importantly, the master trainers were equipped with skills on curriculum adaptation and development, as well as administering approaches on effective training. Beyond workshopping the trainers to facilitate learning and piloting, the workshop equipped trainers as key contributors to curriculum strengthening. During the piloting session, the trainers through observation, documentation, monitoring and reporting, the curriculum will be strengthened before it is rolled out nationally.

This development has been a pivotal step for International IDEA, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and Ministry of Education and Training’s commitment to promoting and strengthening democratic participation. The integration of the civic and voter education in the school’s syllabus also contributes to IEC’s commitment in institutionalizing civic and voter education as a continuous process rather than an ad-hoc activity conducted during the electoral period. On behalf of the trainers and Teachers, one of the participants echoed the importance of being a part of the training, urging the teacher champion the generation that understand the democratic life which can contribute to the development of the country. 

Before the awarding of the Master Trainers Certificate by the European Union Delegation Representative, Marcella Veneziani, with the Social Science Manager from NCDC, Nyakallo Molise, the Lead Expert Prof. Gistered Muleya and Inclusive Lesotho Programme Manager, Manteboheleng Mabetha, she applauded International IDEA for the progress made in integrating the civic and voter education content in the syllabus. She further commented that, 

“The workshop comes at the very important moment of inclusive Lesotho programme, reflecting our shared commitment to strengthen the democratic life, civic participation in the country. Over these days, you have done a lot more than just attending the workshop but helped in building the foundation of the sustainable roll-out of the civic and voter education. I want to congratulate all the participants that will be receiving the certificates which recognizes your commitment, your readiness to serve as trainers and cascade the knowledge across the country”.

She further encouraged the trainers that,

 “As the programme moves to piloting and implementation to champion democracy and ensures that they do all that is possible to provide information during the piloting session that can improve the quality and relevance of the curriculum for better Basotho and Lesotho”.

In closing the social science Manager and the International IDEA programme manager extended words of gratitude to the trainers and teachers to have been part of the five-day training of trainers. The meeting was adjourned after the award session by developing the piloting calendar with possible commence date when schools reopen for the second session.