PRIMARY AND SCIENCE EDUCATION SUB-PROJECT PAPER (BASIC EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT)

This subproject of the Basic Education Development Project will be implemented under a Collaborative Assistance Mode involving the Ministry of Education, Sana"a University, USAID, and Eastern Michigan University (EMU). FOE will be assisted in developing long- and short-range plans to establish within it a Department of Primary Education (DPE). In particular, curricula will be developed for courses in general primary education (B.A.-level), primary teacher training, primary education administration, and curriculum/instructional materials development (M.A.-level). To supplement program development and answer student needs, a curriculum and instructional materials research and development laboratory will be built and equipped. A total of six professionals will be trained as faculty for the DPE through combined long-term study abroad and on-the-job experience at Sana"a university. FOE will also be assisted in developing long- and short-range plans for a program in science education. Curricula will be developed for courses in the content and method of the physical sciences (B.A.-level) and life sciences (M.A.-level). Long-term and on-the-job training will be offered to five science education and three science content faculty members. Two science laboratories will be designed, constructed, and equipped to provide relevant training for future preparatory and secondary school science teachers. Finally, with assistance from EMU, in-service training will be provided to current FOE staff in primary and science education methods. In addition, in-service training programs will be designed and implemented for existing science and primary school teachers. Project beneficiaries are first, the FOE staff members selected for training; second, the Sana"a students whose education will be enhanced; and third, the schoolchildren of Yemen who will have greater access to improved primary and science education.