Uzbekistan’s education reform envisions a competency-based curriculum consisting of standards, a scope and sequence (S&S), textbooks, and teacher guides that align with an assessment system. The scope is the vocabulary, grammar, and skills that are taught over the course of a school year, and the sequence is the order in which those skills and content are presented. The S&S is an important element of a national curriculum and serves two primary purposes. First, it elucidates the curriculum, detailing the constituent elements of the standards or competencies, thus breathing life into the national curriculum framework. Second, it provides a blueprint for national textbooks, detailing content and its order. As a blueprint for the textbook, the S&S becomes the assessment framework as it identifies the skills, grammar, and vocabulary taught at any point in the academic year.

Uzbekistan has embarked on a new phase of English language instruction that will enable students to acquire the skills and competencies necessary for success in the 21st century. At the onset of the Uzbekistan Education for Excellence Program (UEEP) in 2019, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education (MoPSE) expressed its vision for Uzbekistan of becoming an English-speaking nation by 2030. English as an adopted international language can help open doors and opportunities for international cooperation, trade, and cultural exchanges with other nations.

The Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan requested English language series from five renowned international publishers. The EFL technical experts embarked on a exciting journey, immersing themselves in each series. They carefully dissected and analyzed, employing their expert skills to ensure the utmost relevance for the students and dedicated teachers of Uzbekistan. The EFL experts narrowed down their selection to two extraordinary series. But their work had just begun.

Between June 2021, and May 2022, RAMP, in coordination with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and in collaboration with INTEGRATED, implemented the Let’s Live in Harmony (LLH) pilot program based on the LLH initiative funded by UNICEF in 2018-2019. This initiative aimed to establish a positive learning environment for students across 96 Double Shifting Schools (DSSs) in Jordan. The study addressed educational challenges faced by underprivileged students in Jordan, particularly those in double-shift public schools with a mix of Jordanian and Syrian students. At the beginning of the school semester in 2021, 1310 tablets were updated with the Ministry of Education (MoE)-approved LLH content material application. These tablets were strategically distributed among the 96 DSSs for students in Grades 1 to 3, with the allocation based on the number of students in each class to ensure equitable access to resources. The study employed tablets with multimedia content to facilitate interactive learning. Achievements encompassed teacher training, updated materials, curriculum alignment, and enhanced program delivery. These initiatives addressed challenges posed by refugees and the pandemic, leading to improvements in reading fluency, comprehension, and literacy. The study underscored the significance of adaptable educational solutions. The LLH activities were introduced to supervisors through a WhatsApp group to facilitate interactive communication. Integrated into the curriculum, the activities aimed to enhance Arabic literacy for grades 1-3. MOE supervisors ensured fidelity through observations and feedback. Additionally, the study focused on institutionalizing LLH within the MOE, involving various departments and the School and Directorate Development Program (SDDP). Lessons learned included role clarification, formal adoption, capacity building, and effective communication strategies for integration. Findings highlighted LLH's potential impact on reading skills and emphasized the need for ongoing support. Recommendations encompassed further capacity-building, recognition, incentives, and improved communication strategies between schools and the MOE.

This study, conducted in collaboration with the USAID Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Initiative (RAMP) and the Ministry of Education between December 2017 and August 2018, aims to identify types of kindergarten services, providers, and factors influencing parental enrollment decisions. It also emphasizes the need to reevaluate KG2 expansion policies in Jordan. The study's sample included 520 schools, encompassing both rural and urban areas per governorate, along with "vulnerable districts" as designated by UNICEF/Jordan and UNRWA schools. The study surveyed 10,500 parents of grade 1 children from across Jordan regarding their children’s school participation in the previous year. Findings showed a significant gap between reported attendance rates (84%) and official enrollment statistics (60%), indicating substantial unrecognized KG provision. KG2 attendees were primarily enrolled in full-time formal classes, with cost identified as a major enrollment factor. Discrepancies in KG access between urban and rural areas were observed, with public provision being more prevalent in rural regions. Syrian children exhibited lower KG2 attendance rates, attributed to financial constraints. Proposed strategies include offering affordable KG options in areas with a concentration of Syrian families. The study highlights a strong demand for KG services in Jordan, particularly among urban families with limited access to public KG. The study underscores the necessity of strategies that promote affordable, high-quality KG choices, encourage private sector involvement, and provide customized solutions. Its insights can inform policy decisions aimed at improving KG services, contributing to the goal of achieving universal KG access aligned with national development objectives.

The Time on Task study was completed as part of the USAID Jordan Reading and Mathematics Project (RAMP), RAMP was a 7-year project aimed at improving foundational learning skills. The time on task study aims to understand how time is allocated throughout the school day, how that time is used to teach various subjects, and the effectiveness of instructional approaches used to teach Arabic. The study examined grades 1-3 classrooms in schools that were selected as high-growth and low-growth schools based on the results of the 2019 RAMP endline survey. In high-growth schools, students demonstrated growth in reading skills based on reading comprehension and zero scores. Conversely, in low-growth schools where there was a decline in reading comprehension and/or an increase in zero scores. The sample included a total of 34 schools: 16 high-growth schools and 18 low-growth schools. The study utilized classroom observations, teacher and principal interviews, and innovative instructional methods to identify teaching strategies associated with higher student engagement and better learning outcomes. The time on task study took place between October 2022 and March 2023. The results show that while there are existing good practices in terms of effective Arabic instructional pedagogies in early-grade classrooms, there remains a need for adjustments to diversify and expand teachers’ pedagogical skills, along with increasing opportunities for students to engage in reading and writing. Teachers need to provide effective reading instruction that aligns with students' developmental progression of skills incorporating diverse materials and extending Arabic lesson time. Additionally, teachers should design high-quality tasks that foster better understanding and learning. The study was undertaken to inform Arabic literacy instruction and decisions that can be made by Jordan's Ministry of Education (MoE) decision-makers.

Introducing the groundbreaking Reading and Mathematics Program (RAMP), a USAID-funded initiative with a mission to transform early-grade education in Jordan's government primary schools. It addresses the need for enhanced foundational abilities in reading and math among early-grade students, particularly those facing challenges. The program emerged from a 2019 survey indicating that while national scores improved, struggling students, especially those in refugee camps, did not progress as desired. The survey underscored the need for tailored reading materials to master phonics, crucial for fluency and comprehension. Consequently, RAMP analyzed Arabic reading textbooks and identified gaps, primarily in grade 2, prompting the introduction of decodable leveled reading books. The study's central objective is to gauge the effectiveness of these books in classrooms. Designed to bolster phonics skills, they aim to bridge proficiency gaps among different-performing students. The literature review discusses decodable and leveled reading books, highlighting their benefits. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, using pre-tests, post-tests, and questionnaires to measure changes in reading fluency, comprehension, and perceptions. The results showed a significant improvement in first-grade emergent readers using decodable books, while struggling third-grade readers exhibited enhanced oral reading proficiency. Second-grade results were less clear. Students reported increased interest and faced challenges, underscoring the need for tailored resources. Teachers largely endorsed the books and recommended wider implementation. In conclusion, the study seeks to advance the "all children reading" goal by enhancing foundational skills for struggling students.

The Decodable Levelled Reading Books Study Report- Jordan/RAMP Discover the Power of Decodable Books: Bridging the Reading Gap in Jordan's Education System Introducing the groundbreaking Reading and Mathematics Program (RAMP), a USAID-funded initiative with a mission to transform early-grade education in Jordan's government primary schools. It addresses the need for enhanced foundational abilities in reading and math among early-grade students, particularly those facing challenges. The program emerged from a 2019 survey indicating that while national scores improved, struggling students, especially those in refugee camps, did not progress as desired. The survey underscored the need for tailored reading materials to master phonics, crucial for fluency and comprehension. Consequently, RAMP analyzed Arabic reading textbooks and identified gaps, primarily in grade 2, prompting the introduction of decodable leveled reading books. The study's central objective is to gauge the effectiveness of these books in classrooms. Designed to bolster phonics skills, they aim to bridge proficiency gaps among different-performing students. The literature review discusses decodable and leveled reading books, highlighting their benefits. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, using pre-tests, post-tests, and questionnaires to measure changes in reading fluency, comprehension, and perceptions. The results showed a significant improvement in first-grade emergent readers using decodable books, while struggling third-grade readers exhibited enhanced oral reading proficiency. Second-grade results were less clear. Students reported increased interest and faced challenges, underscoring the need for tailored resources. Teachers largely endorsed the books and recommended wider implementation. In conclusion, the study seeks to advance the "all children reading" goal by enhancing foundational skills for struggling students.

This early grade reading material is made possible through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Nigeria Reading and Access Research Activity (EdData Task Order Number 26, EHC-E-00-04-00004-00) implemented by RTI International. It was tested in a controlled experiment that demonstrated effectiveness of the approach on improving reading skills.There is a corresponding pupil book and a collection of read alouds with related activities.

POLICY BRIEF: Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)