EdData II: Data for Education Research and Programming (derp) in Africa

Curriculum and materials. 
Curricula need to be revised to reflect an agreed-upon 
approach to using language for providing instruction, for teaching it as a subject, and/or for 
teaching subject content. Teaching and learning materials aligned to the curricula must also 
be available, including materials for teaching reading as an L1, for teaching languages as 
L2/Lx, and for teaching subject content. While a lack of materials in learners’ L1/familiar 
languages should not preclude teaching in a particular language, the pace and efficacy of 
introducing and using languages will depend on the availability of materials, and should 
therefore be planned for accordingly over the short and long term (i.e., additional language 
for instruction will need to be integrated into use as materials are available). Recently 
developed technology, including software developed under the USAID-supported 
“Enabling Writers” initiative,
languages and make production much easier, faster, and less expensive than previously.
•
Teacher language proficiency, qualifications and training. 
Teachers need to be highly 
proficient in the language(s) that their pupils speak and understand best so that they can 
interact effectively in the 
classroom. They also need 
to be literate in the 
language(s), which usually 
requires some training if 
the teachers themselves did 
not learn in the languages 
in which they are expected 
to teach. (Note that they 
can often back-transfer 
from the L2/Lx to their L1, 
so this process is not insur-
mountable; it does, however, require the commitment and support of the education 
ministry.) Teachers also need to be proficient in the additional language(s) being taught, 
as they may be the only L2 or Lx speakers to whom the children are exposed.
3
For additional information about the “Enabling Writers” All Children Reading Grand Challenge competition, see 
InnoCentive, Inc.’s host Web page: https://www.omnicompete.com/enabling_writers.html.