USAID Primary Education Project

Improving Student Assessment

This component aims “to improve the existing system of school-based assessment in order to improve teaching and learning and to contribute to the optimal individual progress of every student”.
(Extract from the component mission statement)

The component is implemented in partnership with the Macedonia Civic Education Center (MCEC). The following activities are being implemented:

1. Developing standards in student assessment

PEP has assisted the MoES to develop a key document “ Instruction for school-based assessment in primary schools” , which was approved by the Minister of Education at the beginning of 2008. It comprises the basic principles of school-based assessment, the standards of quality implementation of assessment in schools and the required competences of teachers to administer assessment in accord with the established standards. This document represents a framework for all project activities in improving school-based assessment.

In order to help develop high professional standards in assessment, the component also developed a “Code of Ethics in Assessment”. This code concerns teachers, parents and government officials responsible for education.

2. Providing support to professional development of teachers in assessment

The component is providing training to teachers on formative assessment, development of tests and assessment instruments, the use of various procedures in assessment in order to improve learning and achievement of students, as well as on interpreting and using the results from national and international studies of student achievement. School directors and professional associates are also given training on planning and monitoring the improvement of school-based assessment.

Aiming to provide training for all teachers, PEP conducts training courses at national and regional level, as well as training at school level. During the implementation of the Project, teachers are provided with consultative support and PEP promotes cooperation within and between schools in the area of improving assessment. Those teachers and education professionals that demonstrate competence in applying the new approaches to assessment are engaged as trainers and mentors of other teachers.

3. Creating electronic and written materials on assessment

Those teachers that are most creative in applying various assessment methods and techniques are selected as leaders and work with PEP in developing written and digital materials for teaching and training, including assessment instruments for use in everyday classroom practice. They also work on collecting test questions and in creating a data base of issues related to developing tests to be used by teachers.

The component activities are focused, also, on:

Raising the awareness of professional and public audience about the need for quality assessment by publishing promotional materials and providing information to a wider public audience
Linking school-based assessment with the external assessments, which are part of the activities of the Ministry of Education.

The component aims to develop a model of school-based assessment in the Republic of Macedonia which will be compatible with assessment in EU countries.

LIST OF THIRD PHASE SCHOOLS IN THE COMPONENT
"IMPROVE SCHOOL-BASED ASSESSMENT"

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