The “Step by Step” Educational Program offers continuing education courses for teachers in preschool, primary, and lower secondary education, as well as for educational managers, in collaboration with the Methodological Center for Formative Education, in accordance with the “Step by Step” Program.
The training sessions organized by the NGO “Step by Step” Educational Program contribute to the implementation of the formative education reform in the Republic of Moldova, including through the preparation of teachers to apply the child-centered “Step by Step” education model. This model is recognized by the Ministry of Education as an effective approach to implementing formative education. The curricula for “Step by Step” classes are annually approved and included in the Ministry’s reference documents.
The nature of the training is shaped by the objectives of the projects and grants obtained by the NGO “Step by Step” Educational Program, and is conducted in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Moldova, as well as with the ongoing professional development needs of teaching and managerial staff.
The training sessions are flexible, offered as modules, and vary in duration and thematic content depending on the target group, in line with provision 7 of the Regulation on the Organization of Continuing Professional Development, which states that continuing education activities are carried out based on the principles of free demand and supply:
- Core course for preschool teachers and primary school teachers who wish to implement the formative education model according to the “Step by Step” methodology (18 days of training, including guided observation in “Step by Step” demonstration classrooms);
- Specialized courses for:
- Managers (full course – 10 days),
- Lower secondary teachers (6 days),
- Trainers (beginner module – 5 days, advanced – 5 days),
- Mentors (6 days of training);
- Thematic modules – in-depth modules to support continuing professional development, both for teachers and managers working with the “Step by Step” methodology, and for anyone interested in enhancing their pedagogical skills within the formative education framework (2–3 days per module).
The training sessions are addressed to the following categories of participants:
- Preschool educators
- Preschool institution managers
- Primary school teachers
- School managers
- Lower secondary teachers
Structure of a full training course:
- 70% – subject-specific didactics (educational management, classroom management, developmental psychology, modern teaching technologies, necessary environment adaptations to support participatory and inclusive education, use of digital technologies in teaching-learning-assessment)
- 30% – psychopedagogy of formative education
Enrollment options:
- Competitive selection – in case of a grant administered by the NGO: submission of a CV, application form, and a 300–350 word essay;
- Open enrollment – groups are formed based on selected modules and prepared curricula/materials;
- On-demand – for individual or group requests, specific modules are developed and delivered on-site at the requesting institutions.
Participant requirements:
- Be punctual and respectful
- Attend all course sessions consistently
- Actively participate in practical activities during the sessions
- Fully engage their own skills and professional competencies
- Complete all assessment tasks assigned by trainers and coordinators
- Develop an individual learning plan for the period between modules
- Present their completed assignments on follow-up day
- Be polite and considerate to peers, trainers, and coordinators
- Take responsibility for the success of the educational process they are involved in
Certificates of completion are awarded to participants who:
- Have attended 100% of the sessions
- Have successfully passed all final evaluations
Certificates issued by the NGO “Step by Step” Educational Program are recognized in the teacher certification process. Certificates specify the total duration/number of hours and whether the participant completed a full training or specific modules.
Study format:
Courses are organized in modules and primarily take place during school holidays.
Training style:
Theoretical-practical instruction
Evaluation and assessment:
Participants must publicly present their personal portfolios, which include teaching projects, examples of thematic classroom studies, individualized approaches to working with children, evidence of parent engagement strategies, etc.
Certificates for completing the core course in the “Step by Step” methodology are issued only after the public presentation of the portfolio.
The training team includes university and pedagogical college staff, as well as schoolteachers with extensive training experience, both locally and internationally (USA, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, etc.).