Working knowledge: symbiosis of programmes in science teaching, environmental education, and technical and vocational education

UNESCO’s work in science teaching began shortly after the Organization was established. After the Second World War, many schools in Europe were in great need of science equipment. To meet this need, the Organization sponsored the publication of a small volume entitled Suggestions for Science Teachers in Devastated Countries. The book was further developed to include a wide range of guidelines for simple equipment and science experiments and published in 1956 as the UNESCO Source Book for Science Teaching. Over the years, the Source Book was revised several times and translated into more than twenty-five languages. During five decades, the Organization promoted worldwide exchange of information and innovations in science education and assisted many Member States, especially the developing countries, in setting up science teacher training programmes, curriculum development centres, and projects for design and development of science equipment.