USAID Quality Reading Project – Kyrgyz Republic – Annual Report (October 2015 – September 2016)

The project aims to improve reading levels among students in grades 1-4 by building capacity from the national level down to the classroom. The primary objective of the contract is to achieve four key results: improved reading instruction, increased availability of reading materials, increased out-of-school reading time, and increased government support to improve reading. The project's main activities and accomplishments in year three include completing In-service Teacher training (IST) for Cohorts 2 and 3, starting IST for Cohorts 4 and 5, conducting out-of-school activities, and holding Oblast and District Education Meetings. Over 6,300 teachers received government certificates for completing the full IST package, which includes 40 hours of theoretical training and 32 hours of school-based practical training. These certificates are recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES) and will be used in the ranking of teachers in relation to their education and experience in terms of salary. The project team identified 500 teachers from target schools in Batken, Issyk-Kul, Jalal-Abad, and Osh who did not participate in the previous rounds of IST. These teachers come from a pool of teachers who were on maternity leave, newly hired teachers, and teachers who were transferred from one school to another. The MOES signed an official order to conduct training for these teachers, and Cohort 5 was created. The 72-hour course was condensed to 9 days, and in August 2016, 417 teachers completed the 9-day 72-hour training course. Cohort 5 teachers will complete portfolios and practice lessons from September to December 2016. The reporting year was rich for out-of-school activities countrywide, with a total of 131,682 students involved, which makes 46.23% of all target students in the Kyrgyz Republic. The project has also focused on working with local government structures, holding meetings with Regional (REDs) and District Education Departments (DEDs). These meetings are turning out to be one of the main sustainable components of the USAID Quality Reading Project. The project's progress against the work plan is also notable, with a total of $5,408,385 in accrued expenditures for the Kyrgyz Republic during the reporting period. The estimated expenditure for the next quarter (October-December 2016) is $954,104. The project's cumulative accrued expenditures to date are $5,869,380, and the total estimated contract agreement is $9,410,609. The USAID Quality Reading Project has made significant progress in improving reading levels among students in grades 1-4 in the Kyrgyz Republic. The project's focus on building capacity from the national level down to the classroom has been successful, with over 6,300 teachers receiving government certificates for completing the full IST package. The project's out-of-school activities have also been successful, with a total of 131,682 students involved. The project's progress against the work plan is also notable, with a total of $5,408,385 in accrued expenditures for the Kyrgyz Republic during the reporting period.