Contributing to quality education

A joint study conducted by the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Education and USAID on Early Grade Reading Assessment Expansion in Ethiopia revealed that significant percentage of children in Grade 2 read zero words correctly (EGRA 2010). In an attempt to addressing this gap, World Vision Ethiopia introduced a Literacy Boost Program in 2013 in the Oromiya Region and scaled up to other target regions Amhara and Tigray in 2014 focusing on improving the reading and writing skills of children.

As of September 2014 World Vision Ethiopia targeted and implemented Literacy Boost program in 38 Woredas in Oromiya and Amhara Regions reaching 136,500 children (65,267 girls). In this program, World Vision provided different titles of trainings to stakeholders, government staff, community leaders, reading camp leaders, publishers, etc. A total of 287 teachers were trained to facilitate school level interventions and support children’s reading skill in the classroom. And 12,553 parents were equipped and supported children's reading at home. Further, 135 new children reading book titles were developed in mother tongue/local language: Afan Oromo, Amharic and Agewegna and distributed in 414,250 copies.

To ensure sustainability, WVE in close collaboration with the community and concerned government education offices, has facilitated the establishment of 895 reading camps (123 in Amhara and 772 in Oromyia Regions). Community members give their own houses for temporary reading camp and the community starts constructing permanent centered reading camp to their own children. World Vision, on its part, provided some helpful kits to these reading camps; different kinds of essential materials such as children reading books in mother tongue/local language, book shelves, black boards and other stationeries.  These camps are managed by volunteers from the community. More than 3,580 Community volunteers/youth were mobilized and trained to facilitate in the reading camps on voluntary basis.

Mirtu Desta, a 9-year old girl and a grade 3 student, is attending her reading sessions at Tele Reading Camp in Abaya Woreda of Borena Zone some 365 km south of Addis Ababa. Mirtu wants to be an engineer when she grows up. She knows what to do to attain what she aspires to see. “I have to read, write, and understand what is given in the learning class. I have to score better results. Now, I have improved my reading skill and definitely pass to grade four with good result,” said Mirtu. 

World Vision Ethiopia (WVE) has different education program components that are aligned to the international Global initiatives and to the national Government Policy strategy and plan. Through Partnership, Research and Maintaining Minimum Global Standards, WVE Implements Basic Education Improvement Plan, Early Childhood Care and Development, Literacy/Numeracy, Youth/Adolescent Development and Education in Emergencies. The total number of individuals benefited from World Vision Ethiopia Education Programs in 2013 & 2014 were 543,224 (507,937 children and 35287 adults).