Promoting English Literacy and Reading
-- Promoting English Literacy and Reading was one of the three components of the QUEST program.
Purpose:
This Component was aimed at supporting initiatives meant to encourage children in
lower grades to master the level of English literacy needed to be able to learn effectively
in upper grades of Primary school where English is the language of Instruction, and to be able
to take and pass national examinations written in English.
Recent studies suggest that a majority
of pupils at primary schools in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe
(and elsewhere in Africa) are failing to
achieve even a minimum level of English literacy. It is essential to acquire this skill, as English
is the language of instruction at the upper levels of Primary School and the language in which
national examinations are set and written.
Findings:
Kenya - In Kenya, it was found that 1 out of 3 (35%) children, from a nationally representative
sample of primary school pupils in grade 6, failed to achieve even a minimum level of literacy in English
- measured as the capacity to recognize basic linguistic building blocks such as the alphabet and simple
words.
Zimbabwe - In Zimbabwe, a similar study revealed that more than half (54%) of grade 6 pupils
failed the same test: an indication that these pupils were virtually illiterate in English.
Uganda - In Uganda, a study conducted by the national examinations board found that 98%
of Standard 6 primary school pupils failed to achieve the needed mastery in English language to comfortably
pursue further education.
To find out more about these studies (how they were conducted and by whom) as well as see the
results in more detail, visit; Measuring Levels of English Literacy in Primary Schools in
Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, to see selected results of the English literacy at Primary Schools.
The ability to use language (listen, speak, read and write)
proficiently is the key to education,
as it translates learning from a purely oral mode and enables the learner to derive, analyze, synthesize,
evaluate and communicate knowledge from a variety of sources including the teacher and written materials.
Literacy in the language of instruction is the foundation skill which must be provided at the primary level,
as in its absence, little real learning can take place.
For more about the debates over English and Mother Tongue as the Language of Instruction
at primary schools, visit; School Language Policy and the Mastering of English Literacy
A range of projects were supported by QUEST in order to explore ways to improve English literacy
and reading in primary schools in Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe. These projects fell into three categories:
- Supporting research teams to work with education stakeholders to develop English literacy norms against which to measure the progress of pupils at different levels of primary school
- Supporting initiatives which demonstrate/experiment with innovative ways to produce
affordable reading materials for children
- Supporting initiatives which demonstrate/experiment with innovative ways to promote a reading culture
amongst children (in particular) and the broader community more generally.