Literacy, Language and Learning (L3) Initiative Annual Workplan FY2015

(EDC), with technical assistance from Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO), Concern Worldwide (CW), International Educational Exchange (IEE), and Never Again Rwanda (NAR). The implementation dates are August 2011 – January 2017. The L3 initiative's goal is to strengthen teaching and learning so that children leave primary school with solid literacy/numeracy skills. The initiative has five principal objectives: Improved quality of teaching, Improved availability of teaching and learning materials, Support for English, Strengthened Ministry capacity, and Improved equity in education. The L3 initiative trains teachers in how to implement the new, evidence-based reading and mathematics teaching strategies and how to use associated L3 instructional materials effectively. The initiative also initiates activities to motivate teachers and improve their working conditions. The L3 initiative provides teachers with instructional materials keyed to the new instructional practices. It also increases the availability of reading material by distributing supplementary books and encouraging local production of materials. Finally, it introduces accessible and sustainable technologies (audio, cell phones, video) to enrich students' learning. The initiative produces interactive audio instruction (IAI) programs for English as a second language to develop students' and teachers' English communication skills and to support their gradual transition to English as a language of instruction. The L3 initiative embeds literacy/numeracy specialists in the central Ministry and the 13 Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), providing day-to-day support in literacy/numeracy and teacher training reforms. The combination of scripted teacher lessons and IAI programs ensures that all students – those in urban areas as well as those in the most remote regions – receive equal access, each day, to quality instruction. Their teachers also receive ongoing training in effective and inclusive instructional practices. The program targets additional resources and support to students in disadvantaged areas. The following workplan details targets and activities for the fourth year of implementation (October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015). The L3 Administration and Finance Management team will continue to reinforce the administrative and financial procedures and policies. This includes preparing and submitting detailed monthly financial statements and projections for home office review, and submitting financial accruals to USAID on a quarterly basis. Technical partners will continue to submit detailed quarterly reports for inclusion in the L3 quarterly and annual reports prepared and submitted to both USAID and the Rwanda Education Board (REB). These reports, as well as the financial accruals, will serve as the basis for the quarterly portfolio reviews organized by the L3 Project Director. These reviews will focus on examining progress to date with respect to the annual work plan and identifying, if necessary, measures to address identified concerns. To ensure ongoing monitoring of the work plan and expected deliverables, the L3 administration and finance team will continue to organize monthly meetings with all L3 implementing partners. During these meetings, implementing partners will report on activities initiated over the previous month as well as those expected to be carried out in the upcoming month, identify challenges encountered, and engage in joint problem-solving to address outstanding issues in a timely manner. The Project Director, Chief of Party (COP), and other administrative staff that have provided support to the project over the past year have adhered to strong management and reporting practices, and will continue to do so in Year 4. Additionally, the appointment of Provincial Coordinators has served as a strong foundation in ensuring effective application of project activities. The L3 Technical Team and Program Implementation Coordinator will further support and guide the Provincial Coordinators, through a 6-month workplan that will take effect in January 2015. This workplan will include responsibilities around the distribution of P3 materials, implementation guidelines, teacher training, and monitoring and evaluation. The L3 team will hold monthly update meetings to update the workplan as well. The Project Director, COP, and Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) have also initiated plans for a coordinated and phased transition plan for the DCOP's position, and will continue to meet regularly to further develop and assess progress on this plan.