Editor's note: This event in Uzbekistan was held before any cases of COVID-19 were documented in the country and prior to recommendations to practice social distancing and limit group gatherings.
TASHKENT, Uzebkistan—US and Uzbek officials celebrated the official launch ceremony of the English Speaking Nation: Secondary Teacher Training program on March 9 at the Lotte Palace Hotel in downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The English Speaking Nation: Secondary Teacher Training (ESN:STT) is funded by the public affairs section of the US Embassy in Uzbekistan and implemented by American Councils for International Education in close cooperation with the ministry of public education. US Ambassador Daniel Rosenblum and Minister of Public Education Sherzod Shermatov, along with representatives of the US Embassy, USAID, ministry of public education, and Innovation, Technology and Strategy Center joined American Councils for International Education at the launch ceremony.
“Without great education no country in the world, including the United States, can build a great future,” Ambassador Rosenblum said.
He further noted that the United States is honored to be able to support Uzbekistan’s goal of improving English language teaching, which will result in more proficient English language skills for students.
Uzbekistan's minister of public education noted the importance of increasing proficiency in an "international language."
“As Uzbekistan is trying to integrate more into the international community, the mission of improving the knowledge of English language is more crucial than ever," Mr. Shermatov said. "Knowledge of English language has the utmost importance for building a bright future for our youth and for them to be able to compete more effectively in the global job market. ESN:STT is the first step in achieving this goal.”
ESN:STT is focused on improving the classroom English knowledge and teaching skills of more than 15,000 secondary school English teachers across Uzbekistan through intensive retraining and certification. The program sets out to improve methodological and pedagogical standards through a cascade of teacher to teacher training.