The USAID-funded project worked in 1,300 public schools in six provinces to improve student performance by focusing on reading and math in the early grades. The project, implemented in partnership with the Zambian Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, built teachers’ skills through training and special literacy tools, improved school management by creating incentives and accountability structures that ensure the delivery of quality education, and it integrated these education initiatives with community, parental, and government engagement to ensure support and sustainability.
STS led efforts to improve learner performance through formative and summative assessments and the improved use of assessment data. More specifically, STS provided technical assistance for school-based assessment tools, teacher group meeting facilitation guides designed to provide teachers ongoing professional development, and the development of performance level descriptors (PLDs). Assessment and analysis against the PLDs with school-based assessments assisted provinces, districts, and schools in effectively using the resulting data for decision making.