📋 Tender Overview
Project Name
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Secondary Education Project
Project Number
54031-001
Country / Economy
Uzbekistan
Project Status
Proposed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance
Loan
Source of Funding / Amount
Loan: Secondary Education Investment in STEM Project
Concessional ordinary capital resources lending US$ 94.07 million
Sector / Subsector
Education / Education sector development - Secondary
Gender
Description
1. Output 1: Quality of STEM education with support of technology improved. This output will support (i) pilot testing of interdisciplinary STEM classes for grades 5-11, (ii) strengthening curriculum of STEM subjects (physics, chemistry, biology, geography, informatics and mathematics) with EdTech, (iii) upgrading e-platforms for providing pre- and in-service teacher training, (iv) updating national assessment on STEM subjects aligned with the competency-based curriculum standards, (v) improving school-based assessment in STEM subjects, (vi) designing and implementing a special arrangement of recruitment and placement of additional STEM teachers, (viii) designing and mobilizing an incentive scheme for increased girls enrollment in STEM subjects, and (viii) strengthening e-learning and training platform such as Maktab.uz.
2. Output 2: Learning environments improved. This output will support (i) upgrading, science laboratories and ICT facilities in 200 schools and pre- and in-service teacher training institutes; (ii) rehabilitating selected schools with energy efficient, disaster resilient features, and with improved WASH facilities; (ii) upgrading teaching and learning equipment and (iii) strengthening internet connection in the schools.
3. Output 3: Sector management strengthened with expanded partnership. This output will support (i) establishing STEM center with private sector engagement, and developing operational mechanism with the private sector, the academe and civil society organizations in promoting STEM in secondary education, (ii) developing the STEM network where the 200 specialized schools support disadvantaged schools in each district, (iii) strengthening the Public Education Management Information System, and (iv) mainstreaming e-procurement and e-financial management.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
Uzbekistan has achieved high school enrollment rates. The 2020 school gross enrollment reached 97% for secondary level with gender parity. Despite good enrollment, the overall learning achievement appears to be low, especially in the critical thinking and problem-solving domains. Learning outcome achievement in primary education is worrisome with more than a third of students scoring below minimum standard in reading, mathematics, and science. Furthermore, a significant gap in learning outcome exists between urban and rural schools, and within and among individual schools. Recent qualitative studies indicate similarly low achievement and s
