FY 21 QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT 1

program is a five-year initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to strengthen the Mozambican government's ability to ensure students in the target provinces of Nampula and Zambézia achieve grade-level fluency and comprehension in the local language in Grades 1-3. The program provides evidence-based technical assistance to improve early grade literacy instruction in Emakhuwa, Elomwe, and Echuwaha, along with new language acquisition and literacy support to prepare children for transition to Portuguese. In December, the Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH) invited Vamos Ler! to participate in a workshop in Chonguene, Gaza province, to develop a strategy for Mozambique's bilingual education expansion plan. The program's Reading Specialist, Dr. Shima Patel, represented Vamos Ler! at the workshop, where an innovative plan was developed to improve learning outcomes and outline activities to be implemented in partnership with local civil society organizations. The program also worked to revise book distribution routes and plans for eventual completion of the complementary book distribution in early 2021. Plans are now in place and awaiting start date determination based on the 2021 school calendar and the evolving COVID-19 situation in the country. In the first quarter of 2021, Vamos Ler! carried out the last cycle of virtual professional development for the 2020 school year, transitioning from biweekly to monthly content sharing. The program conducted a second feedback survey to learn about factors driving participation in the groups and the main benefits obtained from the activity. More than 90% of respondents reported improved technical knowledge and skills, keeping up to date on bilingual education, and regular interaction with colleagues during the school closure period. The program held meetings with the MINEDH Department of Quality (DNGGQ) to continue work on the online district supervision platform, focusing on installing the latest updates and preparing a practical demonstration for the DNGGQ director and department head to assess readiness for the 2021 school year. Vamos Ler! supports the Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH) to strengthen classroom and systems support and lay the foundation for sustaining and expanding bilingual early grade instruction. The program aims to improve early grade reading classroom instruction and provide evidence-based technical assistance to improve literacy instruction in Emakhuwa, Elomwe, and Echuwaha. The program's progress in the first quarter of 2021 includes: * Improved early grade reading classroom instruction * Development of a strategy for Mozambique's bilingual education expansion plan * Revision of book distribution routes and plans for eventual completion of the complementary book distribution * Conducting a second feedback survey to learn about factors driving participation in the groups and the main benefits obtained from the activity * Holding meetings with the MINEDH Department of Quality (DNGGQ) to continue work on the online district supervision platform The program's achievements in the first quarter of 2021 demonstrate its commitment to improving early grade reading classroom instruction and providing evidence-based technical assistance to improve literacy instruction in Emakhuwa, Elomwe, and Echuwaha.