NOFO: English without Borders Network Program (Tajikistan)

The EWB project has a number of components and objectives to support English teachers through (1) providing professional development and peer- to- peer engagement and networking; (2) equipping secondary school teachers with modern teaching methodologies, and (3) utilizing the newly designed and published English textbooks.

Project Goal

• Develop a network of English language educators and educational institutions across Tajikistan to deliver high-quality and effective English language instruction.

Objectives

• Objective 1: Increase participation of English language educators from educational  institutions, particularly secondary schools, in rural areas of the DRS, Gorno Badakhshan, Khatlon, and Sughd regions by 10% each year.
• Objective 2: Increase the ability of secondary school teachers from rural areas (DRS,  Gorno Badakhshan, Khatlon, Sughd regions) to use modern teaching methods with the new English language textbook through comprehensive training conducted by EWB regional trainers and mini grants.
• Objective 3: Increase the number of EWB initiatives implemented at schools, universities  and institutions, and local communities in urban and rural areas.
• Objective 4: Increase knowledge sharing between USG English language program alumni  and non-alumni English language educators through mentorship programs.
• Objective 5: Strengthen collaboration and knowledge sharing practices between English teacher associations and English teacher networks in Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
• Objective 6: Identify avenues for collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science’s Institute of Professional Development (IPD), such as joint research, curriculum, or teacher training programs.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 24 months
• Total available funding: $273,000
• Award Ceiling: $273,000
• Award Floor: $200,000

Program Activities

• Hold an annual leadership development program to support proactive English teachers in the regions to take on new initiatives and cooperate with the EWB regional representatives in promoting EWB activities at schools and in local communities.
• Create a team of EWB leaders/ambassadors in each of the four regions to hold weekly professional development and capacity building events and organize annual regional meetings.
• Strengthen the community of USG English language alumni in the regions (Fulbright TEA, FLTA, ETM, OPEN online course, SUSI, FLEX, Access Scholarship programs) and develop mentorship programs in each region to engage the alumni in different EWB activities and events, and to act as mentors to other (non-alumni) English teachers.
• Sustain dynamic work and explore new avenues for collaboration with the Institute of Professional Development (IPD) under the Ministry of Education and Science.
• Strengthen and expand upon our partnership with English teacher associations and English teachers’ networks in Central Asian countries through national and international online collaborative events and activities.
• Train teachers to use the new English language textbooks, for example through the EWB regional trainers’ activities and EWB mini grant.

Project Audience(s)

• Direct Audience
  • Approximately 4,000 secondary school English teachers of Tajikistan
  • Teachers at higher education institutions teaching in English (English language and other subjects)
  • Tajikistan English Teachers Association members
  • USG English-language program alumni (Fulbright TEA, FLTA, ETM, OPEN online course,  SUSI, Access Scholarship programs)
  • Institute of Professional Development members
  • EWB members

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • For-profit/Not-for-profit organizations
  • Civil society/non-governmental organizations
  • Public and private educational institutions

For more information, visit Grants.gov.