DUSHANBE, November 2, Asia-Plus — On Friday November 2, Mr. Abdujabbor Rahmonov, Tajik Minister of Education, and Mr. William Frej, Regional Mission Director, U.S. Agency for International Development for the Central Asian Republics (USAID/CAR), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the School Quality Learning Project (SQLP) which will be implemented from 2007 until 2012.
The new agreement lays out the intent of the United States Government to continue cooperation with Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education to improve the access to quality of education.
U.S Government funds to support Tajikistan in the implementation of its National Education Strategy and Education for All Fast Track Initiative Catalytic Fund Grant.
The SQLP is the second regional project implemented in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan will expand access to quality primary and secondary education. Project activities will be built on achievements and lessons learned through previous USAID basic education projects such as PEAKS, IBET/ISET, Step by Step. The new project will continue efforts to improve teacher/student outcomes through: expanding access to teacher training in interactive, learner centered methods; increasing usage of assessment methodologies that better measure outcomes of interactive, learner-centered methods; active participation of teachers in curriculum development; and, support for expansion of a new school finance mechanism which will improve equity and efficiency in the use of existing financial resources.
USAID’s implementing partner Creative Associates International Inc. possesses wide experience and expertise managing diverse projects worldwide and will work closely with the Government of Tajikistan to implement the program.
USAID assistance in basic education already impacts more than 58,000 students studying in 104 schools throughout the country.
