Transforming Teacher Education is the U.S. government’s signature higher education partnership in Zambia. This activity strengthens the capacity of Zambia’s Colleges of Education (COE) and universities to equip teachers with the tools they need to deliver high-quality instruction in reading and local language literacy. The activity will ultimately ensure teachers are better prepared to help their students thrive in the classroom.

  • Life of Project: September 2020 - September 2023
  • Geographic Focus: National
  • Partners: Florida State University (prime), School-to-School International, and the University of Zambia
  • Chief of Party: Mo Schroeder-Sanai
  • Total USAID Funding: $8 million
  • USAID Contact: Beatrice Mweene - bmweene@usaid.gov
 

High-quality, practical pre-service teacher training is central to improving learning outcomes for children. The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) Ministry of Education and USAID collaborated to develop the 2014 National Literacy Framework to address critical learning gaps among Zambian teachers. Despite significant investments in classroom-level in-service teacher training, the 2014 National Literacy Framework has not been fully implemented among Zambia’s COEs. Currently, trainee teachers are deployed to work in primary schools without the necessary skills and preparation to teach effectively.

The Transforming Teacher Education activity supports GRZ COEs and universities to prepare teachers to deliver quality primary instruction and ultimately improve student learning outcomes. The activity facilitates higher education partnerships to provide technical expertise to improve the instructional and institutional capacity of training faculty in all ten GRZ COEs and two universities that offer the primary teaching diploma. The activity supports qualified institutions to update their curriculum to improve teacher training in reading instruction, deepening expertise in local language literacy and enhancing their instruction to better prepare pre-service teachers for the classroom. The activity addresses a critical need for improved, evidence-based practical training that prepares teachers for long-term success.

Expected Results

The Transforming Teacher Education activity will strengthen the capacity of Zambia’s pre-service teacher training institutions to improve teacher knowledge, skills, and performance. Improved teacher instruction will transform the primary education system to better deliver positive student learning outcomes. Success will be demonstrated through improved teacher instruction that results in grade-level reading proficiency among pupils in pre-primary through Grade 5.