Quarterly Report: Selective Integrated Reading Activity (SIRA) for Mali

The project's goal is to enhance classroom instruction in early grade reading, improve service delivery systems, and increase parent, community, and private support for early grade literacy. SIRA is being conducted in the regions of Segou, Sikasso, and Koulikoro and the District of Bamako in Mali. Implementation of activities in all three intermediate result areas continued during the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 (January through March 2018). The project worked in close collaboration with the Ministry of National Education (MEN) at the central and decentralized levels along with local authorities in the municipalities and communities. The report highlights several key achievements, including the signing of the contract for the three-year Option period of the project in February 2018. Classroom early grade reading instruction improved, with several notable achievements. The redistribution of pedagogical materials ensured a 1 to 1 ratio of texts for grade 1 and 2 students. Joint SIRA/MEN supervision missions were conducted in the Dioïla and Bamako regional education jurisdictions, as well as in the Koulikoro, Ségou, and Sikasso regions. Data analysis from the first quarter of monitoring-support visits by pedagogical counselors showed steady progress in learning gains, despite teacher strikes during the month of January 2018 and many AEs strikes in December 2017. The project also made progress in improving service delivery systems. Data collection, analysis, and reporting systems for early grade reading were improved, and planning and management of human resources devoted to early grade reading were enhanced. Parent, community, and private support for early grade reading increased, with parents' understanding and awareness of early grade reading improving, as well as their ability to implement specific strategies to support early grade reading. The project faced several challenges, including teacher strikes and AEs strikes. However, the project continued to work closely with the Ministry of National Education and local authorities to address these challenges. The report includes additional sections on gender, management, relations with the government and partners, and challenges. A summary of major activities is provided below. The project's implementation is ongoing, with a focus on improving classroom instruction in early grade reading, enhancing service delivery systems, and increasing parent, community, and private support for early grade literacy. The project's goal is to improve reading outcomes for Malian students in grades one and two in public and community schools.