Quarterly Performance Report for October 2013 to December 2013

The project's primary objective is to improve reading instruction in grades 1-4, increase the availability of reading materials, increase out-of-school reading time, and increase government support to improve reading. Implementation of the project began in June 2013 and is scheduled to continue until June 2017. The total estimated contract value is $14,906,184, with $7,391,868 obligated to date. The project has made significant progress in achieving its milestones, including the completion of data collection for a qualitative study, the development of reading standards for Tajik, Kyrgyz, and Russian languages, and the creation of an in-service teacher training package. In Kyrgyzstan, the final Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Ministry of Culture on December 12, 2013, allowing QRP to work with community libraries and schools. Additional Letters of Cooperation were developed to be signed with National Testing Centers in both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as with the Kyrgyz Academy of Education. The project has also made progress in improving reading instruction in grades 1-4. A baseline qualitative analysis was conducted in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and a preliminary draft report was submitted to AIR in December 2013. The final report will be submitted to USAID in February 2014. The project has also hired national consultants to develop in-service training packages for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and joint capacity-building workshops were conducted for national consultants in Bishkek in November 2013. The project's reading standards development consultants have reviewed existing language standards and syllabi, met with specialists and experts, and developed draft reading standards per grade. The draft reading standards have been submitted to the MOES for comments and revisions. The project has also incorporated reading competencies into other primary subjects, such as nature, art, and craft, demonstrating the MOES's buy-in to the need for reading standards and competencies. The project's in-service training package development consultants have developed content for the IST package based on literacy boost training materials and comments received from AIR and SCI advisers. The LB materials are being reviewed and adapted by local consultants, and a generic program for nine mini-modules is being developed. Overall, the Quality Reading Project has made significant progress in achieving its milestones and improving reading instruction in grades 1-4 in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The project's efforts to develop reading standards, in-service training packages, and increase government support to improve reading are expected to have a positive impact on student reading levels in the region.