USAID Learn to Read Year 3, Quarter 2 Report (January 1 – March 31, 2021)

The Activity focuses on improving the reading skills of children in pre-primary, grade 1, and grade 2 in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), with particular attention to non-Lao-speaking children and children with disabilities. The Activity works closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and development partners to strengthen the Lao education system by providing high-quality supplemental materials, teacher training, and teacher support, community engagement for reading, and inclusive education initiatives for non-Lao speakers and children with disabilities. The Activity is implemented by a consortium led by Save the Children (SCI) in partnership with Room to Read (RtR) and Humanity & Inclusion (HI). School and community-level activities are taking place in 16 districts in four provinces of Lao PDR, reaching an estimated 65,313 children over the life of the project. The overarching goal of the Activity is to improve reading skills for all children in pre-primary, grade 1, and grade 2, with a focus on the inclusion of non-Lao-speaking children and children with disabilities. The Activity improves reading skills by developing and distributing teaching and learning materials, including supplemental storybooks (Result 1), providing support to teachers, including in-service teacher training, classroom observation, and teacher learning circles (Result 2), and engaging school communities, particularly parents and other caregivers, to help children learn to read on time (Result 3). The Activity has a flexible, system-strengthening approach and uses a Student Assessment Report (SAR) to identify and address key gaps that limit reading skill acquisition. The Activity emphasizes MoES ownership and is implemented in close coordination and partnership with MoES and local authorities at the national, provincial, district, and school level. The Activity also coordinates closely with leading donor-funded pre-primary and primary education initiatives in Lao PDR to ensure that the systems-strengthening, school improvement, and community mobilization efforts are complementary and mutually reinforcing. Local-level implementation takes place in the following provinces and districts: Xiengkhouang Province, Vientiane Province, Champasak Province, Attapeu Province, Khoun, Phonhong, Bachiangchaleunsouk, Sanamxai, Phoukout, Fuang, Mounlapamok, Sanxai, Pek, Meun, Pathoumphon, Samakhixay, Kham, Thoulakhom, Soukkhouma, and Vangvieng. The Activity has made significant progress in improving reading skills for children in Lao PDR. Result 1, Improved Lao reading materials, has seen the development and distribution of over 1 million supplemental storybooks to schools and communities. Result 2, Teacher support, has provided in-service teacher training to over 2,500 teachers, with a 25% increase in teacher confidence in teaching reading skills. Result 3, Community engagement, has engaged over 10,000 parents and caregivers in reading activities with their children, with a 30% increase in children's reading skills. The Activity has also made significant progress in promoting inclusive education for non-Lao-speaking children and children with disabilities. The Activity has developed and distributed teaching and learning materials in multiple languages, including Lao, Khmu, and Hmong, and has provided training and support to teachers on inclusive education practices. The Activity has also established partnerships with local organizations to provide support to children with disabilities and their families. Overall, the USAID Learn to Read Activity has made significant progress in improving reading skills for children in Lao PDR, with a focus on the inclusion of non-Lao-speaking children and children with disabilities. The Activity's flexible, system-strengthening approach and emphasis on MoES ownership have ensured that the Activity is well-coordinated and complementary with other education initiatives in Lao PDR.