USAID Targeting the Learning Crisis Activity (TLC)

Foundational literacy and numeracy skills are a key predictor for children’s future educational development and learners’ overall academic success. Yet, in Uganda, a 2021 study showed that more than 25 percent of children who have reached P3 are “non-readers” (i.e., those who cannot read or sound out letters of the alphabet) and 35 percent of children in P3 cannot perform simple two-digit addition. Targeted Instruction (TI) pedagogy and approaches are impactful and cost-effective in building students' foundational academic skills, and has been consistently found to have great positive impacts on children’s learning at scale.

Centered around TI pedagogy for P3-5 learners, and other evidence-based approaches for ECE and P1-2 learners, the USAID Targeting the Learning Crisis Activity (TLC) will significantly improve learning outcomes for Ugandan primary students. TI and Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL)-based literacy and numeracy methodologies to address poor learning outcomes are not new concepts in Uganda. However, the most effective TI approaches, including the most cost-effective TaRL methods, are not yet well understood or accepted by all necessary stakeholders, operationalized and absorbed into common practice, or scaled-up by the Government of Uganda (GoU). To significantly improve learning outcomes for primary students in Uganda requires contextualized, evidence-based, and coordinated interventions that lead to change within and throughout the government system and communities, including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and private sector entities, such as foundation bodies.

TLC will support the Government of Uganda to:
1. Apply, streamline, and scale evidence-based pedagogical approaches for Early Childhood Education (ECE), P1-2 and P3-5;
2. Align the education ecosystem and catalyze sustainable change toward visible learning gains; and,
3. Strengthen school and community enabling environment to facilitate Targeted Instruction (TI) success and increase cost-efficiency.

Under TLC, World Education will lead a consortium of partners, including Bantwana Initiative Uganda, Madrasa Early Childhood Programme Uganda, Building Tomorrow, International Rescue Committee, and VVOB.