USAID Quality Reading Project – Tajikistan - Quarterly Report (October – December 2015)

The project is a four-year initiative implemented by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Save the Children (SC). The primary objective 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 focuses on building capacity from the national level down to the classroom, supporting the common goal of improving students' reading skills. In Tajikistan, the project has been working to strengthen its relationship with the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES) and its sub-institutions through quarterly meetings and by involving them in trainings and materials development. During the reporting period, the USAID Quality Reading Project and the Republican Teacher Training Institute (RTTI) held a workshop on reading methodologies with the participation of District Education Departments (DED) and TTI primary education methodologists from all project regions and districts. The workshop provided an opportunity to share experiences and update peers on the project implementation in the various districts. Saturday Methodological Union Day trainings continued in the targeted schools of Cohorts 2 and 3, while some Cohort 1 schools that had completed the required 72-hour methodological sessions at school level and subsequently developed their own plans for continuing the activity have started work based on these plans. Planning for January Cohort 4 In-service teacher training (IST) and mentor training for the first three cohorts is ongoing. One of the main achievements of the reporting period was the development and official approval of the Parents' Guide on the "Importance of Reading for Children in the Family." Primary teachers who receive the training from Master Trainers will disseminate the guide through the quarterly parents' meetings at schools. Parents' involvement with their children's academic life continues to rise, with parents donating additional reading materials and books to the schools. The USAID Quality Reading Project is also increasing efforts to strengthen its relationship with the MOES and its sub-institutions through quarterly meetings and by involving them in trainings and materials development. The MOES has approved the publication and dissemination of the Parent's Guide to Reading and has also approved other out-of-school activities. In addition, the project held joint workshops with the USAID Quality Reading Project Kyrgyz team, and project staff and representatives from the Tajik National Testing Center (NTC) traveled to Bishkek for a capacity building workshop on data use and psychometrics. The collaboration between the two NTCs will support information sharing between the two institutions, both of which are crucial for the project's success. The project's progress against the work plan is being closely monitored, and the USAID Quality Reading Project is committed to achieving its objectives and making a positive impact on the reading skills of students in Tajikistan. The project's estimated expenditure for the next quarter (January - March 2016) is $920,000.