World Education Awarded Program to Expand Bilingual Education in Mozambique
September 7th, 2022 | Press Release
Continuing their investment in bilingual education in Mozambique, USAID has selected World Education to implement the Improved Learning Outcomes in Primary Education (SABER) project from 2022 to 2027.
World Education has been helping to strengthen early grade literacy in Mozambique since 2012. SABER builds on the work of Aprender a Ler (2012-2015) and Vamos Ler! (2016-2022), which improved learning outcomes for students grades 1-3 by increasing the quantity and quality of reading instruction, engaging parents and communities in education, and improving policy frameworks and delivery systems for early grade reading. SABER will effectively expand bilingual education to the second cycle of primary school (grades 4-6), supporting students’ transition to learning in Portuguese and working to ensure the sustainability of bilingual education.
World Education has partnered with four local organizations, Associação Progresso, Movimento de Educação para Todos (MEPT), Associação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento (NANA), and Unidade de Assistência Técnica para a Educação Funcional (UATAF), and one international partner the Bluetree Group, to implement the initiative.
Research shows that learning to read in one’s local language while concurrently developing oral language skills in the national language leads to higher literacy rates. Through the Bilingual Expansion Strategy (2020-2029), the Government of Mozambique renewed its commitment to improving learning outcomes.
Through SABER, World Education and partners, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH), will reach more than 2,407,360 learners, 3,875 schools, and 27,200 teachers across 39 districts in Nampula and Zambezia
SABER will focus on remedial learning for students in grades 1-3 who were impacted by COVID-19 school closures. SABER will provide teaching and learning materials for primary school students to use at school, at home, and in reading clubs, as well as training and supervision on best practices for instruction.
World Education will evaluate student performance and also improve data systems to track and report on student and teacher attendance—currently a significant barrier to education. SABER will support MINEDH national evaluation systems by integrating program performance evaluation approaches within the national evaluation framework.
World Education and its partners are preparing for the launch of SABER in early 2023, working to identify areas for collaboration and ensure results at every stage of the project. World Education will align with MINEDH policies and planning processes from program inception to ensure sustainable approaches that will lead to transferring final responsibility to the Mozambican government by project close.
