Learning

Here are some examples from Cambodia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tajikistan that show how good practices in the provision of accessible learning materials are being put into practice during COVID-19.

Language-focused MERL activities play an important role in gathering evidence and garnering support for adopting languages children use and understand outside of school for reading instruction.

One of the best ways for children to improve their reading skills is to practice reading using a variety of texts that are written in a language they use and understand. However, many children have limited access to such materials.

Teachers must teach in the same language that their students use and understand. These language skills, coupled with pedagogical content knowledge and instructional approaches, are essential for providing effective reading instruction.

Learning to read in a language that they use and understand is a critical factor in determining whether children develop the strong literacy skills that are foundational for all later learning.

Reading, the bedrock of literacy, is the foundational skill necessary for all academic progress. Designing high-quality primary grade reading programs is essential to ensuring a pipeline of students who remain in school, achieve educational success, and contribute to economic growth.

Kenya implemented the Tusome Early Grade Reading Activity in 2014. It introduced interventions at the grade 1 level beginning in 2015. Taking its name from the Kiswahili word for “let’s read,” the Tusome program was a five-year, nationwide effort.

In 2010, less than ten percent of Kenya’s primary school-aged children were reading at the national level benchmarks. Ten years later, largely due to the success of the Tusome program, nearly 66 percent of grade two students now read at grade level.