SGS – Strengthening of German-supported Schools in Kabul

The education system in Afghanistan is facing an array of challenges. On behalf of the Federal Foreign Office, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit supported three model schools in Kabul in meeting these. The goal was to improve learning conditions by enhancing the qualifications of teachers, providing modern teaching materials and improving the schools’ infrastructures. Part of the project was to identify particularly gifted students amongst applicants to the schools with an efficient, transparent and fair selection process. To this end, the Department for Education and Development at DIPF developed test items for assessing working memory capacity and general cognitive ability. In cooperation with Prof. Dr. Samuel Greiff at the University of Luxembourg, items for assessing complex problem solving tasks were developed. These measurement tools were implemented in the CBA ItemBuilder, with support from the Centre for Technology Based Assessment (TBA). This ensured that the tools deliver results without potential outside influences which could be evaluated automatically. The biggest challenges in the development of these assessment tools lied in their cultural adaptation and their computer-based implementation and evaluation.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (comissioned by the Federal Foreign Office)

• Robert Baumann
• Dr. Patrick Lösche