Georgia Primary Education Project Monthly Report July 2016

The project began in 2015 and is implemented by Chemonics International Inc. in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. The project's primary goal is to enhance the quality of education in Georgian schools, with a focus on literacy and numeracy skills. In July 2016, the project continued to utilize Google Analytics to better understand user behavior on the G-PriEd Portal, which recorded 5,015 users, with the highest number of users in a single day being 822. The portal was also used to upload materials, including a revised and reformatted version of the portal-upload materials with the new G-PriEd logo. Additionally, the portal was used to administer online summative tests for reading and math subjects, and to archive 2015-2016 academic year portal statistics. The project also focused on training delivery, with assessments and scoring of summative tests for 7,265 teachers from Georgian expansion and pilot schools. The results showed that 98% of Georgian language teachers and 97% of math teachers scored higher than 60% of the maximum test points. Furthermore, the project conducted school principal activities, including instructional leadership, with 427 principals from expansion schools conducting annual evaluation sessions with 4,939 teachers. In terms of training materials, the project commenced the development of training content for school principals' training on the role of the school principal as an assessment leader. The project also procured and reviewed materials for teacher training content planned for 2016-2017 from three books: "A Differentiated Approach to the Common Core," "Assessment and Student Success in a Differentiated Classroom," and "Differentiating Math Instruction." The project also focused on instructional resources, including the finalization and uploading of the instructional movie "Literacy rich classroom environment" onto the portal. Additionally, the project completed the revision, editing, and formatting of the final set of supplementary GL and GSL leveled readers, and tested and piloted the story generator computer program for students. In terms of parental engagement, the project uploaded recommendations for parents on G-PriEd's Facebook page on the topic "How to support child's literacy development during summer holidays." The project also continued promotion of the project "Read aloud for 15 minutes" among parents. The project also cooperated with higher education institutions, including a workshop and presentation of G-PriEd resources to representatives of six higher education institutions from Tbilisi and other regions in Georgia. Additionally, the project conducted workshops for the faculty of pedagogy at Ilia State University and Telavi State University to discuss the prospects of enriching education programs with G-PriEd resources. In terms of cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, the project analyzed the draft of textbook procurement package and textbook evaluation criteria, and developed additional criteria for students' book and teachers' book to align the future textbooks with student-centered approach. The project also developed a draft outline for textbook authors' training in reading and math. Finally, the project anticipated a cost modification of G-PriEd, with a request from USAID to prepare and submit an 18-month cost modification through March 20, 2018.