Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic – On July 3, 2013, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the award of the four-year Quality Reading Project that builds on the U.S. Government’s longstanding commitment to education in the Kyrgyz Republic. USAID will continue to support the Kyrgyz Republic’s Education Development Strategy for 2012-2020 by working with 7,500 teachers in more than 1,000 schools throughout the country, reaching 60 percent of the Kyrgyz Republic’s primary grade student population (approximately 260,000 students). USAID’s Quality Reading Project will be implemented by a team of international and local non-governmental organizations led by the American Institutes for Research, a behavioral and social science research organization and Save the Children International, a worldwide non-profit organization working to improve the lives of children.

USAID has been providing education assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic since 2002. USAID recently developed 17 teacher training resource packages that improve teachers’ instructional practices, the management of schools and universities, and facilitate the work of parent-teacher associations. At the request of local communities, more than 35,000 copies of these packages were distributed to teacher training institutes, schools, and communities nationwide. USAID also supports the National Admissions Test, a transparent and merit-based higher education entrance exam which is administered through the Center for Educational Assessment and Teaching Methods.

Mark Hannafin, acting USAID representative to the Kyrgyz Republic, lauded the program, saying, “The U.S. Government has been a steadfast partner of education in the Kyrgyz Republic. We are committed to ensuring that all people have access to education. Whether we are helping children in unregistered settlements, creating summer learning opportunities in underserved communities, or training teachers, we are consistent in our support for all people of the Kyrgyz Republic.”

The Quality Reading Project is one of the many assistance projects supported by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). For additional information about USAID, please visit: www.usaid.gov