Although Camilla’s initial trips to Afghanistan, beginning in 2003, involved teaching students in schools throughout the country, her focus in now on training teachers to teach hands-on science, a concept completely new to them. She emphasizes the importance of teaching critical thinking through the hands-on science experiences, with a fervent hope that the concept will translate to other areas of their lives.

Teachers in the Afghan school systems have traditionally taught subject matter by rote memorization. Students have been expected to memorize facts and equations without any experiments, hands-on activities or participation and have subsequently learned to accept facts without questioning them. One of Camilla’s guides, a senior engineering student at Kabul University, told her that during his entire school career he had never once performed an experiment.

Now under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Camilla has developed hands-on science lesson plans, complete with experiment illustrations,  that will be used throughout the country. Teachers from throughout the country are now coming to Kabul to be trained with the new curriculum.

For more information about Camilla’s early experiences with teacher training, check these out.

Lalander Valley
Zerak Valley
Ghazni
Kabul