Creative Associates International, Inc. is working with the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative and host country Ministries of Education to make schools in Algeria and Oman more dynamic, effective places for children to learn and develop the skills they need to thrive as citizens in their communities. Creative’s MEPI team accomplishes this by conducting capacity-building trainings and building partnerships with ministries of education to identify priorities for reforms that will result in sustainable education programs. In Algeria and Oman, the MEPI Partnership Schools Program (PSP) is a four-year, $11-million initiative that complements the governments’ commitments to reforming their education systems.

MEPI PSP partners with governments to implement real school reform in areas including: English, math, science or social studies curriculum development; teacher training, methods and certification; technology utilization; and private sector partnerships. MEPI PSP will serve as a model for governments as they build new schools and revamp their educational systems to meet the social and economic needs of tomorrow.

In Algeria, the PSP supports the Ministry of National Education’s reform goal of achieving universal education by 2015. In partnership with the ministry, Creative has introduced eMath to primary school students and is improving the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language. With an eye to making reforms sustainable, Creative’s PSP-team is collaborating with teachers, inspectors and administrators to demonstrate excellence in education through three pilot programs: English as a Foreign Language teacher training program;
school linkages program; and a program to introduce technology into the classroom to teach third-grade math.

Creative has established information and communication technologies (ICTs) linkages between schools in the United States and schools in Algeria. The ICT-based program links students and teachers through interactive, curriculum-based activities on a variety of academic subjects. These activities and the introduction of eMath to third graders have also resulted in IT growth and infrastructure development in several wilayat (regions). Creative is working with Michigan State University, Rubicon and the School for International Training to implement these MEPI Algeria activities.

Oman
The Creative-managed MEPI-Oman program is concentrated on improving the quality of basic and post-secondary education including teacher training, curriculum content, community empowerment and digital readiness, and on promoting the development of employable skills.

Creative’s activities in Oman include training an estimated 600 teachers through a cascade training model. In secondary schools, Creative and its partner, the Tony Read Education Consultation Services, worked closely with the Omani Ministry of Education to develop a life-skills curriculum for grades 11 and 12, which provides lessons in health and job training, among other subjects. Creative’s subcontractor, Seward, is training school principals in leadership and organizational skills to lead their staff in the delivery of quality education. Similarly, Creative and Seward work closely with the ministry to provide educators training in the use of ICTs.