Success Story: Teacher Cândido Odasse Sandrassone - Mulevala/Zambézia (2021)

program. Initially assigned to Mucata Primary School in 2013, Cândido was selected as a bilingual teacher for the 1st grade in 2017, following the introduction of the Vamos Ler! program at his school. He participated in district-level teacher trainings, enabling him to teach using the bilingual curriculum and textbooks. As a result of his participation in the program, Cândido's teaching skills improved significantly. He believes that the program has enabled him to better engage with his students and their parents, particularly through the use of bilingual education. Cândido's experience with the program has been so positive that he was selected as a school-based coach and later as a local teacher trainer in 2019. His participation in the program has also motivated him to develop a taste for reading, and he has encouraged his colleagues to do the same. The Vamos Ler! program has introduced a virtual training initiative, which has been well-received by teachers in both Nampula and Zambézia provinces. Cândido has participated in this initiative, which provides biweekly training sessions via WhatsApp. He has found this experience to be unprecedented and has praised the program for its innovative approach to teacher professional development. The WhatsApp modules have contributed significantly to the continuous development of participating Vamos Ler! teachers, enabling them to deepen their knowledge of bilingual teaching methodologies, class routines, and material usage. Cândido's experience with the virtual workshops has been overwhelmingly positive, and he has gained a range of skills and knowledge, including improved pedagogical practice, spelling standardization, and the ability to write different sounds, syllables, words, and phrases. He has also appreciated the opportunity to exchange experiences with his colleagues, which has helped to solve problems and share best practices. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cândido remains positive about the impact of the Vamos Ler! program on the quality of education in Mozambique, particularly in his district of Mulevala.