Quarterly Report: Time to Learn Project FY 2015 Quarter 3

The project is funded by USAID/Zambia and partners with the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, Vocational Training, and Early Education (MESVTEE) to develop an effective, replicable, and sustainable model for improving reading performance and responding to the economic, social, and psychological complexities faced by OVC. During the 2nd quarter of FY 2015, the project focused on the midline impact evaluation data, drafting the TTL midline report, and conducting a series of dissemination events for the midline evaluation results. The project also trained 1806 community school teachers in literacy instruction using mobile phones and instructional videos, with 41 administrators and 303 Zonal In-Service Coordinators trained in the utilization of e-EGRA, the TTL reading performance monitoring instrument. Additionally, 202 teacher mentors were trained in psycho-social counseling, and 2426 scholarships were paid to OVC. The project's achievements during the reporting period include training 1806 teachers in the phone literacy program, 41 administrators and 303 Zonal In-Service Coordinators in the utilization of e-EGRA, and 202 teacher mentors in psycho-social counseling. The project also paid 2426 scholarships to OVC and submitted and disseminated the Mid-Term Evaluation report to MESVTEE and partners. The project's results table shows significant progress in various indicators, including the number of administrators and officials trained, the percentage of zonal, district, provincial, and other MESVTEE entities monitoring community schools systematically, and the number of learners in TTL-supported community schools with reading skill gains. The project has also made significant progress in providing textbooks and other teaching and learning materials, supporting Parent-Teacher Associations or similar "school" governance structures, and enrolling learners in primary schools and/or equivalent non-school based settings. The project's partnership with PEPFAR has also resulted in significant progress, with 48,000 beneficiaries served by PEPFAR OVC programs for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. The project has also trained 5,522 teachers in how to support learners' psychological well-being. Overall, the Time to Learn Project has made significant progress in improving educational outcomes among OVC in Zambia, and its achievements and results demonstrate the project's effectiveness in addressing the economic, social, and psychological complexities faced by OVC.