On August 13, 2021, JICA Uzbekistan Office, Ministry of Public Education, Scientific Research Institute for Studying the Problems and Determining the Prospects of Public Education named after A. Avloni and KEI Advanced, Inc. (Japan) signed Minutes of Meeting on JICA`s “SDGs Business Verification Survey with the Private Sector for the Introduction of a Japanese-style Academic Achievement Test Model in Uzbekistan”.
The overall goal of the project is to support the development of highly qualified human resources in Uzbekistan and contribute to its further development. It is planned to test the Models of Testing Academic Achievement in Mathematics used in Japan. The project involves studying the performance of the system for assessing academic abilities and the creation of an Uzbek model on its basis that meets world standards. As a result, the project will contribute to increasing the level of academic ability of students across the country by increasing motivation to study and further increasing the chances of admission to higher education. This grading system will allow for more effective instruction of students based on test results and the creation of individual learning plans adapted to the needs of each individual student.
One of the announced strategic objectives of the Ministry of Public Education is to enter the top 30 countries of the world in terms of the quality of education by 2030 according to the world PISA standards. The improvement in math skills as a result of this project will directly contribute to the achievement of this goal.
It is expected that the Project directly/indirectly will contribute the project will contribute to increasing the number of applicants who have passed the entrance exams to the university from the first year of submission, as well as increasing the opportunities for applicants to study abroad.
In addition, KEI Advanced, Inc. has advanced know-how in test design and deep analysis of test results. The company also has many years of experience in conducting the "Japan MOCK Unified National Exam" in all school subjects. The number of participants in this exam is as close as possible to the actual university entrance exam in Japan, with a coverage of 2.99 million students.
・ Know-how in test organization and management
・ Educational research and development know-how (including educational advice)
Implementation plan of the project include following activities:
- Purchase of 400 personal computers (PCs) for online tests in 40 schools;
- To study the educational standards and teaching materials of Uzbekistan, and on the basis of the data obtained, together with SRI Avloniy, to compose tests in mathematics for grades 8-9-10;
- Testing 14,400 students in grades 8-9-10 and, based on the test results, develop individual learning plans for students / their parents and for school teachers;
- Together with SRI Avloniy, develop testing methods adapted for the educational environment of Uzbekistan;
- To transfer to the specialists of Uzbekistan, the know-how on the development of tests and individual recommendations for students, teachers and parents;
- Make recommendations for the Ministry on building transparent and objective mechanisms for assessing academic achievements;
- Within the framework of the legislation of Uzbekistan, discuss with the Ministry on possible mechanisms of public and private partnership for the widespread dissemination of testing and improving the quality of teaching in schools.
At the signing ceremony of the project, Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan expressed their gratitude for JICA’s support that makes it possible to contribute to the enhancement of quality of public education in terms of introduction of Japanese best practices of education as well as its willingness to continue cooperation with JICA in the education sector.
