Jordan ERSP Quarterly Report (Oct to Dec 2013)

Agency for International Development (USAID) and Creative Associates International, Inc. The program aims to support the Ministry of Education (MoE) in implementing education reform initiatives. The ERSP quarterly report for October to December 2013 highlights the program's progress and achievements during this period. During the quarter, the ERSP faced bureaucratic delays due to the newly appointed Minister's interest in steering the Ministry away from the ERfKE reform and into a new undefined direction. Despite these challenges, the program continued to make progress in various areas. The Early Childhood Education component remained actively engaged in the work of the ECE Regional Working Groups, which are planning for a national ECE Campaign to kick off next quarter. The Education Training Center (ETC) implemented training of 272 principals on support to kindergartens, as well as the exam for grades 1-3 teachers who were trained in the summer. The Youth, Technology and Careers component implemented the School to Career program in 58 schools and the Life Skills through Sports program in 21 schools, according to plan. The team earned two large donations from the private sector, but was prevented from delivering the funds to the schools by MoE bureaucracy. Renovation and furnishing work was concluded on the remaining counselor offices, with computers to be delivered at the start of the next semester. The Professional Development component continued implementing its Induction program's specialized phase, reaching 618 newly hired teachers. ERSP hosted a ceremony to honor the winners of the National School Success Story competition, with over 400 guests from around the Kingdom in late November. Several ERSP-trained teachers and principals were among the winners of the Queen Rania Award for Excellence in Education, a national symbol of recognition for high-caliber educators. The Data Use component continued its engagement with schools and Field Directorates on the timely use of data for improved decision-making. By mid-November, all schools in Jordan with the exception of one Field Directorate had been trained on the program. Through extensive follow-up visits, ERSP ensured that each of the 550 ERSP-trained schools and every Field Directorate had created an action plan based on priorities generated through the Education Management Information System (EMIS). The program's next quarter will focus on ensuring that all MoE counterparts have the resources and documentation they need for the sustained implementation of the transitioned programs. The ERSP will also begin the final semester of implementation and continue supporting the transition of programs according to schedule.