Loan- 2093

 

 

The goal of the Project is to improve the quality of basic education. The purpose of the Project is to establish efficient and sustainable provision of affordable textbooks nation wide, and other learning materials, supported by necessary institutional and policy reforms.

 

The total cost of the Project is estimated at $55 million equivalent

ADB provide a loan of $25 million equivalent from its Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR).

Government provide a loan of $30 million equivalent

 

The Project comprises four components: (i) strengthening the basic education policy framework, (ii) sustainable provision of textbooks, (iii) book sector development, and (iv) school library development.

 

This component will strengthen the national curriculum for basic education. Curriculum reform as an ongoing process has an essential impact on sector efficiency and the sustainability of basic education, and provides the basis for long-term enhancement of quality and relevance of basic education. This component will also strengthen the national assessment and examinations system, which is necessary to ensure quality in implementing educational standards and contents required by a modernized curriculum. A number of research studies will also be undertaken under this component, focusing on key educational policy issues, including a national ICT development strategy in education, and the LOI practices.

 

Outputs of this component will be (i) an improved national curriculum and syllabuses with competency based learning objectives and reduced subjects and content requirements; (ii) revised assessment procedures and examinations to test the revised learning objectives and outcomes specified as part of the curriculum reform; and (iii) recommendations on a national ICT development strategy in education, and review of issues relevant to the LOI.

 

 

This component will extend the coverage of the Textbook Rental Scheme (TRS) created and successfully piloted under BETDP to all core subjects at all grade levels from grades 2 to 9 to maintain high levels of textbook provision to every student in school nationwide. It will also develop and institutionalize the legal mechanism necessary to ensure financial sustainability and proper management of the TRS.

 

Outputs from this component will be (i) full textbook supplies on all core subjects for grade 6, 7 and 8 in all schools; (ii) free textbook provision for the poorest students through better targeting mechanisms; (iii) legal establishment of and operational Republican Textbook Revolving Fund Foundation (RTRFF), as a mechanism to ensure long-term, sustainable, parent-funded textbook provision; and (iv) decentralized, school-based decision-making on textbook selection and related financial and managerial matters.

 

 

This component will continue the process, begun under BETDP, of upgrading skills in the chain of textbook and learning materials development including authorship, publishing, production and distribution. Specifically, it will provide financial and technical support for the development of short, in-service book sector skills training at a selected local educational institution in order to establish permanent local training capacity in the full range of skills required in the sector of book and other educational materials development. The component will also seek to create conditions for a more active private sector role in the book sector, including the improvement of incentives and remuneration for quality authorship, and equal access to the textbook market by private sector publishers and printers. This is expected to result in increased representation of the private publishers on the MOPE approved book lists and procurement contracts for textbooks and other materials. This process will be assisted by the ongoing privatization of state owned publishers and printers.

 

Outputs of this component will be (i) a sustainable institutional base for continued upgrading of professional, commercial and management skills in book sector development; (ii) strengthened capacity in authorship and publishing through workshops and training; and (iii) an improved policy and regulatory framework conducive to private sector growth in the educational book sector in Uzbekistan. 

 

 

 

This component will strengthen and develop school libraries as resource centers for learning and teaching. They will provide (i) alternative sources of information, which to date has been dominated by textbooks; (ii) necessary facilities and environment for the development of student research, project work and independent learning; and (iii) key methodological support to the introduction and nurturing of a more interactive, student centered learning approach. Such libraries will be valuable to teachers and students, and will provide a wide range of up to date information, viewpoints and approaches in a variety of media.

 

Outputs from this component will be (i) national standards, policies, management systems for school library system improvement; (ii) 1,000 refurbished, upgraded and well-stocked school libraries (10% of the total); and (iii) improvement of skills through training of 1,000 school librarians and 200 oblast/raion specialists.