Impact evaluation of the early grade reading activity (EGRA) : final report

An impact evaluation that measured EGRA's impact on reading performance of Standard 2 and 4 leaners in Chichewa showed that overall impacts were not signiifcantly large to clearly attribute the improvements in oral reading fluency scores over time in EGRA treated schools. But, there were indications of significantly positive impact for Standard 2 learners that scored at the bottom of the distribution to move to higher scores over time. Integration of EGRA with other USAID projects was not a consistently significant factor in impacting oral reading fluency scores. Oral reading fluency scores were higher when learners could take books home to read, readers were read to at home, and with teachers use of essential teaching practices. It could cost around US$140 in direct costs per learner in an EGRA-type intervention to improve oral reading fluency scores over time by one unit. (Author abstract)