USAID Teacher Excellence Initiative Quarterly Progress Report – Q1 FY24

The initiative began in April 2022 and is set to conclude in April 2027, with a budget of $49,500,000. The project is implemented by the Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) in partnership with several sub-awardees, including Arizona State University, American University of Beirut, Florida State University, and others. The project's geographic coverage spans 14 governorates in Egypt, including Cairo, Gharbia, Kalyubia, Menoufia, Damietta, Alexandria, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, Beni-Suef, Fayoum, Sohag, Qena, and Aswan. The project's reporting period for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023) was marked by intensive planning and implementation of various activities. One of the key activities conducted during this quarter was a five-day Training of Trainers (TOT) Fall Intensive Postgraduate workshop, which engaged 30 participants from 15 Egyptian partner universities. The workshop focused on the new postgraduate diploma bylaws, the fundamentals of the new education system, multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches, action research, Universal Design for Learning, Intended Learning Outcomes, and the integration of technology into the learning process. In addition to the TOT workshop, the project staff conducted on-site surveys to refurbish, upgrade, and equip dedicated IT labs in Faculties of Education (FOEs) in five university FOEs. The goal is to make the IT Labs dedicated to teacher preparation activities and accessible for persons with disabilities. The project also planned and started its regional meetings with Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MOETE) officials at the governorate level to collect information on the challenges facing cooperation between FOEs and the MOETE in planning, implementing, and evaluating teacher education programs. The two meetings conducted this quarter were held for MOETE directorates in Cairo and northern Upper Egypt, and for MOETE directorates in the Suez Canal region. The USAID Teacher Excellence Initiative will analyze data to identify challenges of coordination and alignment between FOE teacher preparation and MOETE and inform program support. The project plans to review the Year Three (Y3) Work Plan next quarter through a planned "Pause and Reflect" session to ensure that capacity building and technical support occur in a logical, pedagogically sound, and productive manner. The project's progress was also marked by positive media coverage, with over 100 positive media items across the country, including early January media items. The project staff maintained consistent communication with ministry counterparts, including the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) and the MOETE, as well as with USAID, to ensure that activities remained roughly on track.