What We Do: Literacy Support Initiative

A Recognised Need to Improve Literacy

The Government of Ghana’s goal is that every child learns to read before completing elementary school, yet only 26 percent of pupils who complete class six are functionally literate, according to a 2007 assessment of literacy among pupils conducted by the Ghana Education Service. Now the Ministry of Education is pursuing an accelerated program to achieve a "radical improvement in children’s reading ability."

Success

EQUALL developed and produced a local-language program in 11 Ghanaian languages for all Kindergarten through Primary 3 classes in Ghana.

EQUALL drew on experience in mother-tongue literacy approaches used in its Reading Improvement in Primary Education program and Complementary Education Program to help the Ghana Education Service develop a National Literacy Acceleration Program. This series of teaching and learning materials teach children to read first in their local language. Abundant research shows that use of children’s own language is the most effective way to learn to read.

The National Literacy Acceleration Program

EQUALL’s support to the National Literacy Acceleration Program included:

  • developing a literacy framework that ensures children master reading
  • developing instructional materials for use in Kindergarten through Primary 3
  • planning and delivering a national teacher-training campaign
  • using social marketing to promote acceptance of the local-language based approach to learning to read and write.
   Nzema PB1
Dagbani PB2
Ewe PB3
The Thirsty Crow Asante
PB3 Reader Dangme

Resources