As part of the international program to improve the quality of basic education, a large-scale project for the development and piloting of assessment tools for 21st-century skills has been completed. The project aimed to enhance educational systems and strengthen the capacity of educators in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus.
The primary goal of the project was the creation and localization of test materials designed to assess 21st-century skills, including critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. The work involved the development of test assignments adapted to the cultural and educational characteristics of the participating countries, as well as the training of local teachers and administrators.
The project comprised several key stages. The initial stage included comprehensive analytical work involving the study of existing international and Russian assessment methodologies, the adaptation of tools to local contexts, and the development of unique test instruments. Ensuring a high level of reliability and validity of the created materials was a central focus.
An important component of the project was the pilot testing phase, conducted with a sample of more than 1,200 students and 60 teachers in each participating country. This process helped identify the strengths and weaknesses of the developed tools and gather valuable feedback from participants. Based on the results of the piloting, adjustments were made to the test assignments, and methodological guidelines for educators were developed.
The final stage of the project was the training of national specialists. Teachers and administrators participated in a series of seminars and webinars to learn how to use the assessment tools and gain practical skills in their application. All participants noted the high quality of the prepared materials and the accessibility of the presented methodologies.
The project’s outcomes generated significant interest among the educational communities of the participating countries. Final reports highlighted that the use of the developed tools contributes to improving the quality of the educational process, fostering universal competencies among students, and adapting educational systems to the challenges of modernity.
The project demonstrated that implementing such initiatives not only enhances the quality of education but also strengthens international collaboration. The developed tools have significant potential for scalability and application in other countries. The study results formed the basis for recommendations on the development of school education systems and the introduction of innovative approaches to assessing learning achievements.
The Center for International Cooperation will continue to work on new projects aimed at supporting and advancing educational systems, building on the successful experience of this initiative.
