Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – On August 23-24, over 900 primary school teachers in Naryn oblast received certificates from the Kyrgyz Academy of Education, recognizing their proficiency in new approaches for reading instruction. These teachers are now equipped with innovative techniques to improve the reading skills of students in grades one through four.

Another 1600 teachers from Issyk-Kul, Jalal-Abad, and Talas will receive their certificates in the upcoming weeks. All participating teachers completed 72 hours of training that included basic components of reading instruction, evaluation methods, hands-on exercises, and school-based activities. The USAID Reading Together project financed and implemented these training courses in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

"Every teacher makes a major impact on the future of many children. Collectively, these teachers will improve the ability of an entire generation of Kyrgyz citizens to read, and through them, advance the economic and social development of the country,” said Nora Madrigal, the Director of the Health and Education Office of USAID in the Kyrgyz Republic, during the award ceremony in Naryn.

Raising the professional capacity of teachers and equipping them with the latest instruction techniques is critical to improving reading speed and comprehension for students. Since the launch of the project in 2013, USAID has trained more than 10,400 teachers covering 60% of schools across the country. Over 7,000 of these teachers received Kyrgyz Academy of Education certifications and use the new teaching methods in their classrooms.

Under the USAID Reading Together project, USAID partners with the Ministry of Education and Science to set new reading standards, develop guidelines for schools, train teachers, evaluate students’ reading skills, and organize community events to promote reading throughout the country.

###