AKIPRESS.COM - Festival of jailoo kindergartens (mountain meadows kindergartens) on cultural values and traditions in education of preschool age children was held in the town of Naryn. Local authorities, education sector representatives, children, teachers and heads of these kindergartens participated in the event.

The festival was aimed to enhance the knowledge of teachers on methods of the children’s education through cultural values and traditions of Kyrgyz people. These methods were based on the obtained experience and practice of jailoo kindergartens.

Exhibitions organized during the festival provided participants with the opportunity to get familiarized with five-year experience of five jailoo kindergartens. Participants were presented workshops on producing toys from waste materials, felt and reed.

“Preparing children for school on jailoo is one of the most interesting, important and valuable approaches nowadays that are based on the principle of continuous education. Local authorities should support, develop and improve such projects,” noted the vice mayor of Naryn, Saltanat Esenamanova.

Five kindergartens in three areas of Naryn region (Naryn, At-Bashi districts and Naryn town) were provided with the yurts and all necessary training and teaching materials. These yurts allow conducting classes, activities and lessons, games scheduled for jailoo season (summer period). Yurts are made in compliance with the rules and regulations of ancient traditions, and are made from wood, felt and wool.

The educational program in jailoo involves children of different age. Special attention is paid to children of preschool age. The content of working programs of the jailoo kindergartens are based on social activeness of children; development and strengthening of writing, reading, listening, speaking, drawing, producing skills.

The idea of kindergartens in jailoo was presented and implemented within the education program of the Public Foundation Kyrgyzstan Mountain Societies Development Support Program (an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation) in 2011.