Annual Program Report: USAID SOMA UMENYE YEAR 5: OCTOBER 1, 2020 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

The objective of the initiative is to ensure that at least 70 percent of students in P1-P3 are able to read grade-level Kinyarwanda text with fluency and comprehension. To achieve this, Soma Umenye focuses on classroom and school-level interventions, including the provision of materials, training and coaching, supportive leadership, and analysis of student assessment results. The initiative is being implemented by Chemonics and its partner organizations in all public and government-aided primary schools nationwide from July 2016 to December 2021. The Soma Umenye activity has made significant progress in improving reading instruction in Rwanda. In Year 5 (October 2020 – September 2021), the initiative distributed 1,945,152 decodable readers for P1 students and 572,415 teaching and learning materials (TLMs) to new schools. The initiative also developed and delivered a School-Based Orientation for new P1-P3 teachers, facilitated a four-day in-person training for 6,705 new P1-P3 Kinyarwanda teachers, and distributed 2,755 tablets for head teachers and Sector Education Inspectors (SEIs), as well as 30 laptops for District Education Officials (DEOs). The initiative observed an increase in key metrics during the school monitoring activities, including 78% of teachers demonstrating essential skills in the classroom, 52% of teachers receiving adequate coaching, and 39% of head teachers demonstrating essential early grade reading leadership skills. The Soma Umenye activity has also supported the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) to scale-up the Local Early Grade Reading Assessment (LEGRA) for all P1-P3 students at the end of Term 1, 2, and 3. The initiative trained 4,201 school leaders on how to implement LEGRA and how to support teachers to use LEGRA data to make informed decisions about teaching early grade Kinyarwanda. The Soma Umenye activity has also supported REB and NESA to integrate timed oral reading fluency and reading comprehension tasks into the national LARS IV assessment. In addition, the initiative provided strategic guidance to REB and MINEDUC with preparations for school re-opening, supported NESA to successfully scale up LEGRA to every P1-P3 student, and delivered the first nationwide face-to-face training after inter-district travel and in-person meetings resumed. The Soma Umenye activity has also supported almost 7,000 new P1-P3 teachers to practice key early grade reading teaching skills as part of a School-Based Orientation while restrictions prohibited face-to-face training. The Soma Umenye activity will manage a smooth transition and handover of activities to REB, NESA, and USAID Schools and Systems from October to December 10, 2021. The transition activities will include facilitating a LEGRA technical meeting, providing technical assistance to REB and NESA, and supporting the development of a national remediation program. The Soma Umenye activity has made significant progress in improving reading instruction in Rwanda and will continue to support the education sector in the country.