The Challenge

According to UNESCO, more than 100 million children worldwide are below the minimum level of reading and writing skills due to the educational impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Venezuela, the situation has been particularly concerning. Student absenteeism has reached nearly 50%, while approximately 30% of students are experiencing educational lag. Additionally, 66.5% of primary education students are repeating their grade. A 2021 report by Encovi further reveals that, due to worsening living conditions in the country, over 500,000 children and young people were excluded from the school system in the past year.

Why It Matters

'Leo, juego y aprendo' is a reading teaching and learning program based on evidence related to how the brain works to learn to read, as well as on the most effective strategies for teaching children to read. The program is aimed at children aged 5 to 9 who are learning to read, as well as educators, families, and civil society organisations involved in the school environment.

How We Did It

Fortell and Unimet developed a survey conducted by avatars, featuring up to 15 questions aligned with the programme's objectives. The results indicate that Unimet's initiative is significantly enhancing students' reading and writing skills. Teachers also reported notable benefits. The majority observed increased motivation among students to read and study. Specifically, 84% of respondents felt that the initiative positively impacted students' reading skills, with 81% noting a substantial improvement.

While the effects on teachers have been positive, there is still room for further development. As one teacher commented, “The training has been highly beneficial, providing us with tools to assess students' reading levels and implement strategies that support and reinforce their learning. This makes the reading process more tailored to their needs and helps them acquire these skills more effectively.”