DUSHANBE, November 14, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan) in partnership with the Ministry of Education of Tajikistan, the National Testing Center and the World Bank will hold a roundtable in Dushanbe from November 18-19 to discuss development of the national university entrance examination system in Tajikistan.

According to OSI/AF-Tajikistan, the meeting is expected to bring together representatives from President’s Executive Office, the Ministry of Education, regional and district education departments, Tajik universities, the Academy of Education, the National Testing Center, the World Bank, UNICEF, the German Society for Cooperation (GIZ), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ag Khan Foundation, as well as international experts and consultants from OSI/AF, Education Support Program (ESP), Anglia Assessment Ltd, and the Network of Education Policy Centers (Croatia) to discuss issues related to introduction of the unified system of university entrance examinations in Tajikistan, general principles of selection of university entrants and their entry into universities.

We will recall that the National Testing Center reported on October 18 that Tajikistan launches a grant project aimed at supporting the National Testing Center under the Russia Education Aid for Development (READ) Program and the main goal of this project, prepared on the basis of proposals of the Ministry of Education and approval of the Government of Tajikistan, is to strengthen the capacity of the National Testing Center for the sustainable implementation of: (i) a system of unified University entrance examinations based on the principles of equal access, transparency and objectivity, and (ii) a national student assessment system.

According to the National Testing Center, the project will primarily improve access to higher education by ensuring transparency and objectivity of admission to higher education institutions based on Unified Entrance Examinations conducted by the National Testing Center.  In addition, implementation of READ project and support to the National Testing Center in Tajikistan will create a foundation for a national student assessment system, which will have an effect on the process of modernization of curriculum, publication of textbooks and teacher training.  In the future, Tajikistan is expected to participate in international student assessment programs.

The total amount of project funding from the Government of the Russian Federation is 3.4 million USD with a 3-year implementation period. The contribution of Tajikistan is 400,000 U.S. dollars.  The project will be implemented by the National Testing Center under the auspices of the Ministry of Education.  The project will be administered by the World Bank. The Project Legal Agreement was signed between Tajikistan and the World Bank on July 28, 2011.

Earlier in 2010, the World Bank allocated USD 2 million for the construction of building of the National Testing Center.

The project is a part of the global Russia Education Aid for Development (READ) Program.  Founded in 2008, READ is a program of cooperation between the Government of the Russian Federation and the World Bank and it is aimed at improving the quality of education and eliminating gaps in the system of learning outcomes assessment in eight countries of the world, including Tajikistan.