DUSHANBE, August 29, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The Step by Step Program of the Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/ Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan) organizes charitable action, The First Grader, in Tajikistan from August 31 to September 1, 2009.

According to the OSI/AF-Tajikistan, the main objective of the action is in providing assistance to the first graders from vulnerable families in the Khatlon province.  “The action targets 350 children who will be provided with all necessary school accessories, including textbooks, schoolbag, writing materials and so forth,” the source said, noting that 20,100 U.S. dollars have been provided for purchasing all necessary school accessories.

The Step by Step Program is implemented in 25 schools and 18 preschool institutions across the republic.

The Step by Step Program that has worked in Tajikistan since 2003 is a comprehensive education reform program for children aged 3 to 14.  The program introduces child-centered, individualized teaching methodologies and supports community and family involvement in pre-schools and primary schools.  It also promotes active family involvement.  The program holds training workshops for teachers, family coordinators, methodology specialists, psychologists and directors on new interactive methods of teaching that renders technical assistance to kindergartens and schools.  In Tajikistan, the program has covered more than 3,200 children from preschool institutions and their parents, 250 teachers and more than 4,600 children from primary schools and their parents.