Literacy is Boosting in Ethiopia
By Kebede Gizachew
Introduced three years ago, Literacy Boost Program has come up with new teaching-learning approach, which benefitted tens of thousands of primary school children in reading and writing skills, has been boosting in many parts of Ethiopia. Following its success and demand from the community, Literacy Boost Program has been scaled up to different regions of Ethiopia.
Samre Area Program in Tigray Region is one where LB stepped in eight months ago. Since then, trainings have been provided in nine sessions for 159 first cycle teachers in 11 schools and 132 youth volunteers have been mobilized who in turn mobilizes and recruits members of the community for the same cause. As many of the stakeholders witness the efforts in LB are paying off.
“The key teaching-learning components that are unique for literacy boost are reading corner, sitting arrangement and print rich classroom, and informal class sessions at reading camps in the weekends by volunteers in the community which have brought about a tremendous change in the reading and writing skills of children,” said Aster Asgedom, Education Specialist at Samre AP.
A recently conducted evaluation assessment indicated that 4700 children have become beneficiary of Literacy Boost Program in Sahart Samre district, while the number of good readers has risen to 66% from 33% eight months ago.
Tewolde Hagos is a primary school teacher in Finaruwa locality in Sahart Samre district some 860 km North of Addis Ababa. “WV provided us training several times on classroom management, sitting arrangements, and teaching aid preparation and usage from locally available materials. I am seeing a progressive change in children’s reading and writing skills,” Tewolde explained.
“I feel I am glad to have this opportunity because I am equipping children with proper reading and writing skills so that they can be best learners and contribute to the community in turn,” said 14-year-old girl Awotu Wolde, one of the youth volunteers who is teaching in the informal reading camp sessions in the weekends.
7 year old Qisanet Woldegebriel is a grade 2 student. “I love reading stories because it makes me a good reader and know a lot. I want to be a doctor so that to treat sick people” said Qisanet.
The program has encouraged many of the community members as it has been benefitting children in many ways. Woldemichael Wubet, 53 and a father of 8 is WV’s volunteer in the community and reading camp provider. “I provided this reading camp free of charge because it will benefit children of my community. Here they read, write, and play every week ends. I am very happy to see their lives changed; their reading and writing skills improved and play as well. That is a great reward for me,” said Woldemichael.
In its three years stride WV Ethiopia Literacy Boost Program has benefitted close to one million children and tens of thousands of parents. So far over one million children reading books have been distributed to children in 2405 reading camps.