Sindh Reading Program

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Improving early grade reading in primary schools.

 

Sindh Reading Program (SRP) is a five-year initiative launched in the same geographic areas to support SBEP's goal of improving early grade reading, learning and teaching. The Sindh Reading Program aims to address critical issues in early-grade reading through continuous teachers, professional development, improving assessment, distributing supplementary materials, and encouraging family participation. 

On January 6, 2014, Chemonics International was awarded a contract by USAID to implement the Sindh Reading program to achieve the aims mentioned below. 

SRP's aim is to:

  • Improve teacher competencies for effective early grade reading.
  • Improve early grade reading and assessment practices.
  • Improve student access to supplementary reading material.
  • Enhance participation of parents and caregivers in support of early grade literacy for out of school children.

The program aims to directly impact 400,000 students by providing training, and resources for improving reading, teaching, learning, and assessment in Grades K-5 in selected government schools of the Sindh province's targeted seven districts (all Talukas) and five selected towns of Karachi. As a result, primary school children will demonstrate grade-appropriate competence in reading, which will enhance their learning capabilities. The Program will provide professional development opportunities for up to 15,000 government teachers to improve their competencies in effective reading in the target areas. Similarly, 500 government district officers/supervisors, teachers, principals/head teachers, Sindh Teacher Education Development Authority staff, faculty of PITE and BOC will be trained in developing, implementing, and monitoring EGRA on an annual basis, and developing teacher/administrator training manuals and guides. 

The Sindh Reading Program also aims at enrolling 30,000 out-of-school children (ages 3 to 16 years) in non-formal and literacy programs in the target districts of Sindh. This intervention will lead to the transitioning of at least 30,000 school-aged children to government schools. Through this intervention, it is also anticipated that parents or caregivers of 30,000 out-of-school children will be engaged in literacy and numeracy programs in the target areas.