Monitoring Learning Achievement (MLA) is joint UNESCO/UNICEF project, which was launched in 1992 to fill a data and information gap on the quality of education. MLA projects are world-wide studies of learning achievement, covering more than 70 countries. The MLA is unique in terms of: 1. Providing not only information on actual learning achievements, but also focusing on identifying the factors influencing those achievements; 2. Collecting academic data in key subjects focusing on life skills such as health, nutrition, environment and safe behavior; 3. Focusing on in-country analysis rather than inter- country comparison (cf. PISA and TIMSS); 4. Developing and strengthening national capacities in monitoring the quality of education; 5. Creating and sustaining a monitoring culture in a country and a region. Currently, there are two developed phases of the MLA around the world: MLA-1 measures learning achievements at the primary school level, while MLA-2 measures learning achievements at the secondary school level. The Central Asian sub-region joined the MLA project in 1999. MLA-I was the first to be implemented - in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. MLA-2 has just followed in Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan is to combine MLA-1 and MLA-2 and implement both this Spring 2005, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are planning to do the same in the near future. The presentation will focus on key aspects of MLA planning and implementation in the Central Asian region, and will present some survey results.