Okuu Keremet! (Learning is Awesome!)

Okuu Keremet! (Learning Is Awesome!) is a project designed to help improve learning outcomes in reading and mathematics benefiting more than 450,000 students in Grades 1‒4 in 1,682 target schools in the Kyrgyz Republic.

GOALS 

In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES) of the Kyrgyz Republic, Okuu Keremet! focuses on improving the quality of teaching reading and mathematics to early grade learners. The project also provides students with high-quality supplementary learning materials and works with the government on improving the quality of education for every child.

KEY RESULTS 

• In July 2022, the MOES approved national general education standards and reading and mathematics subjects that were developed with USAID’s support.
• By January 2023, 14,500 teachers received government certificates for successful completion of Okuu Keremet!’s training sessions on effective methods of teaching reading. The project developed special training modules that reached more than 17,500 teachers and librarians.
• The project designed special training modules on an electronic learning platform called Moodle that can be used online or offline. This platform enables the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to deliver distance education when needed.
• In January 2022, the project launched two-year long math training for primary grade teachers in four languages: Kyrgyz, Russian, Uzbek and Tajik. To date, more than 12,000 teachers have completed half of the training sessions.
• USAID supported the development of two applications to improve the quality of reading and mathematics instructions. One app helps teachers assess students’ reading and mathematics skills, the other assists methodologists to mentor teachers through classroom observations. Both apps are being used in 1,682 target schools. In addition, around 3,500 school administrative staff and methodologists of district education departments were trained to mentor teachers in primary schools.
• Since the launch of the project, USAID has supported the development of 922 digital books in Kyrgyz, Russian, Uzbek, and Tajik languages. They are all available on the Bloom Library and MOES websites. The project also distributed 285,000 books among 1,065 schools and 82 libraries.
• Okuu Keremet! adapted 40 sign language books for children with hearing impairment. The books were shared globally in the international digital Bloom Library, thus contributing to the expansion of access to modern, engaging, and inclusive children’s literature in local languages. 
• In February 2023, 3,372 math kits were distributed among 1,682 target schools. These kits include 27 different visual aids and manipulatives as well as a math kit user’s guide for teachers to use in their mathematics classes.
• The project also works with children, parents, and communities to enhance extracurricular learning. More than 70,000 students were engaged in project-supported extracurricular learning activities, including math contests, reading hours and others.
• By September 2022, a total of 22 pre-service teacher training institutions had incorporated Okuu Keremet!’s reading modules, teacher mentorship, and formative assessment tools into their syllabi.
• USAID conducts reading and math assessments to measure the impact of the project. In the spring of 2021, Okuu Keremet! administered early grade reading and mathematics assessments to Grade 2 and Grade 4 students. In February 2023, small-scale reading and mathematics studies were conducted to measure students’ midterm learning outcomes. The findings of these assessments are being used to further improve the quality of instruction in reading and mathematics.
• Okuu Keremet! conducted two studies to analyze the level of inclusivity of education and gender equality and to identify whether these issues affect the learning process and outcomes in public schools. The results of these studies are used to make informed decisions about further work of the project. In September 2022, the project produced a Disability and Inclusive Education Resource Guide for primary grade teachers as a practical resource manual to help them teach reading and mathematics more inclusively.
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Project Duration: November 1, 2019– October 30, 2024

Budget: $$18.9 million

Implementing Partner: RTI International

Key Partners: Ministry of Education and Science; Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism; Kyrgyz Academy of Education; Republican Institute for Advanced Training and Re-Training; regional teacher training institutes

Contact information: Saule Khamzina, skhamzina@rti.com