Enhancing and Advancing Basic Learning and Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina – ENABLE BIH First Quarterly Progress Report

The reporting period for the First Quarterly Progress Report covers the period from October through December 2016. In accordance with the Cooperative Agreement, Save the Children developed an Annual Work Plan and Monitoring and Evaluation plan with the support and guidance of the USAID within the first 60 days from the agreement's signing. The project management activities were implemented in accordance with the plan. The ENABLE-BiH project team was completed, with the Project Manager proposed by Save the Children in North West Balkans and approved by Save the Children US. Two other members of the project team, the Project Coordinator and Project Assistant, were hired through an open vacancy call. The local expert working group for STEM, comprised of 8 local experts, and the expert working group for PPDM, comprised of 2 local experts, were established through an open call for expert positions. The Project Advisory Board (PAB) was also established as a coordination mechanism for the ENABLE-BiH project. The Request for the Appointment of the PAB members was sent to various institutions, and the first meeting of the PAB took place on December 20, 2016, in Sarajevo. Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were developed and sent for review and signing to various institutions, including Federal and Cantonal Ministries of Education, APOSO, HEA, and Faculty of Science and Mathematics in Sarajevo. Regarding the development of the Operational Teaching Curriculum for STEM proficiencies based on the Common Core Curriculum, two key activities were carried out. The process of setting the working group for STEM based OTC with relevant sub-groups for 3 triades (9 grades) and secondary general education was initiated. The Request for the Appointment of the STEM working group members was sent to various institutions and organizations, including universities, Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, and civil society organizations. A fact-finding mission on STEM and PPDEM was organized for US experts from the partner consulting firm, Miske Witt & Associates (MWAI). The objectives of the mission in regards to STEM were for the US expert team to gain insight into the practices of Science and Mathematics teaching and learning in BiH in primary and general secondary education. Two core activities were conducted for the development of Standards and Operational Guidelines for PPDM related courses across all teacher study programs. The working group for PPDM related courses with relevant sub-groups was established, and the US expert team conducted the PPDM fact-finding mission to review the existing curriculum and practices in the PPDM area. Project operations included procurement of IT equipment and basic office furniture for the project team. The project staff performed daily tasks, and human resources management was conducted. The project team also organized a fact-finding mission on STEM and PPDEM for US experts from the partner consulting firm, Miske Witt & Associates (MWAI). The objectives of the mission in regards to STEM were for the US expert team to gain insight into the practices of Science and Mathematics teaching and learning in BiH in primary and general secondary education. The project team also established a working group for PPDM related courses with relevant sub-groups. The Request for the Appointment of the PPDM working group members was sent to various institutions and organizations, including universities, Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of BiH, and civil society organizations. The US expert team conducted the PPDM fact-finding mission to review the existing curriculum and practices in the PPDM area.