The Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialised Education of Uzbekistan identified the improvement of in-service teacher training in higher and secondary specialised/vocational education as a policy priority and invited the British Council to be a key partner in reforming the national INSET system. 

Client, stakeholders, partners

• The Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialised Education of Uzbekistan
• Key national in-service teacher training institutions
• The Uzbekistan Association of English Teachers
• Norwich Institute for Language Education

Focus
Improving the In-Service Teacher Training system for university, college and lyceum English language teachers in Uzbekistan.

The project
The Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialised Education of Uzbekistan identified the improvement of in-service teacher training in higher and secondary specialised/vocational education as a policy priority and invited the British Council to be a key partner in reforming the national INSET system.

To achieve the project objectives a team of teacher trainers and materials designers was set up. Baseline study and needs analyses were implemented. Training programmes for trainers and material writers were developed and delivered. A new in-service teacher training programme focusing on language learning, classroom management and materials adaptation was developed and piloted nationwide. Three Professional Development Centres (PDCs) were set up in key INSET institutions in Tashkent, Samarqand and Andijan. A long term partnership between key INSET institutions in Uzbekistan and the Norwich Institute for Language Education was established.

The new 144 hour in-service teacher training programme for English teachers in universities, colleges and lyceums was approved by the Ministry and is being delivered through PDCs all over the country.

Since 2007, 150 English teachers from 30 universities, institutes and colleges in Uzbekistan have benefited from the programme. Around 200 will follow the programme in 2008-09. Eventually every university, college and lyceum teacher of English in Uzbekistan will do the course. The project has significantly strengthened the national system of in-service teacher training and is highly appreciated by education authorities and teachers. The programme is now being cascaded in Tajikistan.

What the stakeholders say

• ‘'The university is proud and honoured to work with the British Council on this very important for the country project." The Rector of the University of World Languages.
• ‘'The British Council is doing a noble job for all teachers and learners in Uzbekistan by initiating and supporting this project. I don't know what can be more important in ELT than English teacher training". The President of Uzbekistan Teachers of English Association
• "I am a novice in teaching and have been very lucky to start my career by attending the course. The course has not only transferred my life but the life of my students dramatically. When I returned to my students after Module 1 they didn't recognise me. They're saying that I've changed a lot and my lessons have become really interesting". Makhina Buzrukova, Samarkand Institute of Foreign Languages.

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