A consultation was held on the development of an assessment strategy

A training seminar was held at the Hilton hotel, entitled “Consultation on Developing an Assessment Strategy.” This seminar was also aimed at implementing one of the goals of the Quality Education Support Program 1 and was implemented as part of Lot 2 of the project for the implementation of the document “Development and Implementation of a National Strategy for Student Sssessment and an Action Plan for its Implementation”. The workshop was opened by Sergij Gabrscek, the Project Team Leader (QESP-1), and was led by Norman Emerson, the main expert on the assessment of education. It was noted that this document is a tool to attract key stakeholders in the education system of Tajikistan to the development and implementation of a national strategy for student assessment.

It will also serve as the basis for a revised and agreed project that will be used to support future discussions with MoES RT. While QESP is responsible for developing the strategy, it will be used as a model for working with key partners to achieve common agreement on the key principles of the future strategy. It will also ensure collaboration between QESP activities and other donor-funded assessment projects. This document reflects the objectives of the National Strategy of Education Development, which includes updating the content of education and improving access to quality education. During the seminar, practical classes were also held and group discussions took place.

TRAINING SEMINAR FOR AUTHORS OF SUBJECT STANDARDS AND TEXTBOOKS

On Fabruary 4-5, this year, as part of the transition to competency-based approach to education, a training seminar was held at the National Library for authors of subject standards and textbooks, which was attended by 30 teachers and specialists in the field of education.   The opening speech was made by Latofat Naziri, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science and Sergij Gabrscek, the Project Team Leader (QESP-1), who provided detailed information about the goals and objectives of the seminar.  The seminar was continued by Dr. Richard Webber, the international consultant component 4 of the project “Development and procedure of a comprehensive framework of curricula”, and Asror Aliyev and Qutbiddin Mukhtori, the local consultants, acting as the main trainers of the seminar.

It was noted that the purpose of the seminar as part of the transition to a competency-based approach is to show new and modern ways of developing textbooks and curricula.  The seminar also discussed the procedure and methodology for the development of core and subject competencies, competencies and their reflection in standards, subject curricula, textbooks and teacher’s guide, the structure of the teacher’s guide and how to use them in the educational process.

The seminar ended with an exchange of views, discussions and suggestions for solutions in future work.

IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETENCE APPROACH IN EDUCATION STRENGTHENED

 On January 6, 2020, at the initiative of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan and with the technical support of the Quality Education Support Program-1, a five-day training began at the National library of Tajikistan on the introduction of a competency-based approach in teaching social sciences.   It will be attended by 140 people from among the leading teachers of the regions of the country. This is the last subject group of subjects of secondary and general education, which take advanced training courses on the introduction of competency-based education. In previous years, teachers of natural and mathematical sciences, the Tajik language and foreign languages, and information technology took this course in several stages with the technical support of the Quality Education Support Program. Within five days, teachers from all regions of the country will be involved and trained as regional trainers.  It is assumed that these teachers will conduct courses at the regional level – in their districts in two stages for teachers of humanities disciplines.   Thus, by the beginning of the 2020-2021 academic year, will be implemented the introduction of competency-based training in all disciplines in secondary schools.   The opening speech was delivered by Latofat Naziri, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan. In particular, Latofat Naziri noted that: “The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan is satisfied with the cooperation with the Quality Education Support Program, as although initially it was planned to organize training courses only in natural and mathematical subjects within the framework of the Quality Education Support Program,  but at the request of the Ministry Education and Science the Program has also undertaken the organization of courses in linguistic and humanitarian subjects.   In the light of the Message of the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the announcement of “20 years of study and development of natural, exact and mathematical sciences”, we are planning to invite the Quality Education Support Program to cooperate on two other issues – evaluation and work of methodological associations”. Speaking at the event, Sergij Gabrscek, the Project Team Leader noted that: “As part of our program, we are focused on developing the core competencies of students so that they can function in different social environments in the context of globalization. We also express our gratitude to the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan for direct support in the implementation of the Program and hope that our cooperation will continue to develop within the framework of the program.”  Further, speaking at the event, Ligita Grigule, the International Expert of the Quality Education Support Program-1 on teacher training and educational policy, told the participants that: “We believe that you are creative individuals and that you will contribute to the development of your country’s education sphere precisely through the use of your ability and your skills.   The program that we, together with international and national experts, provide you with, includes the development of core and subject competencies of students, teacher competencies, features of training tasks in competency-based teaching, the need for media literacy, and skills of working with an adult audience.  And the goal of all this is to develop your coaching skills.   Therefore, we expect that you will also contribute through your suggestions and requests to improve the content of the training.   I wish you success in this five-day training and in your future work.”