Global Network of Science Academies- IAP to support ECO Science Foundation for implementation of Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) in the ECO Region

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The Science Education Programme (SEP) of the Inter-Academy Panel (IAP), a global network of 107 Academies of Sciences has pledged to support ECO Science Foundation for implementation of inquiry based science education (IBSE) at schools in the ECO region. This agreed by the IAP SEP 2014 Biennial International Conference on IBSE and Science Literacy and SEP Global Council meeting held in Beijing China on 28-30 October 2014. The conference was hosted by the Commission on Education for Children of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the China National Commission for UNESCO, the Children and Youth Education Centre of CAST, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The International Conference attracted more than 130 speakers and participants from 19 countries.

President ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro participated in the conference as a member of the SEP-IAP Global Council and made presentation on "Status and Future Prospects of IBSE in the ECO Region".

Under the main theme 'Challenges and Opportunities of Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE)/Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education', the four sessions devoted to 'IBSE and Technology Education', 'Student Outcomes Assessment', 'IBSE and National Development' and 'Science Outreach and Society' engendered animated and constructive deliberation, culminating in the recommendations and outcomes in the form of Beijing Declaration and same was adopted by the IAP SEP Global Council in its meeting on 30 October in Beijing.

This Beijing Declaration reaffirms that, after nearly 25 years of experience throughout the world, it has been proven that IBSE/STEM education - from preschool upwards - enhances the curiosity and creativity of children, and improves their language and numerical literacy. That IBSE/STEM education enables children and youths to think critically and to doubt certain cultural, social and consumption fashions unless they have been proven by evidence to be beneficial. That IBSE/STEM education not only assures the human resource pipeline required for the green and clean scientific, engineering and technology devices and systems needed to combat the challenges of global poverty and global climate change, but also provides the world with a rational and discerning citizenry that will help ensure peace and security of the world.

• Called on all IAP member academies of sciences to redouble their commitment to IBSE/STEM education, including reaching out to their national ministries of education, their national UNESCO commissions and their national missions in UNESCO.
• Called on industry to assist national academies of science and their national governments to enhance IBSE/STEM education policies and initiatives to ensure the formation of the creative and innovative human capital that will enable their own enterprises to remain competitive in the increasingly fast-paced science and technology development environment.
• Called on foundations and donors to sponsor the roll-out of IBSE/STEM practices, especially in developing countries.
• Called on China, the host nation of the Beijing Conference, and other nations with rich experience in IBSE/STEM and science outreach activities to share their experiences with the world and to assist in capacity building efforts in other countries, especially developing countries, wishing to implement IBSE/STEM.
• Called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to include IBSE/STEM in the programme of the UNESCO World Education Forum in Incheon, Korea, in May 2015, and to incorporate IBSE/STEM for quality education and lifelong learning into the United Nations post-2015 development agenda.

For the realization of the importance of IBSE , ECO Science Foundation plans to launch the IBSE in whole ECO region and initially a Capacity Building Workshop of Coordinators/Focal Persons from ECO countries including Pakistan will be held in Summer 2015 in collaboration with the La main a la pate Foundation (LAMAP) France; Embassies of France in member states; International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (ISTIC) Kuala Lumpur- Malaysia; ECO Educational Institute, Ankara-Turkey; Islamic Development Bank (IDB), UNESCO and Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). The workshop is expected to be hosted either by the National Academy of Sciences- Azerbaijan or by the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan.