Did you know that English has 42 phonic sounds?
Over the last academic year we have been working with grade one teachers in nine schools to teach English using the phonics method. So far, we have trained 36 teachers to effectively use the phonics method in their classrooms!
We have seen incredible results this year, with children who have received the phonics lessons showing an advance in their English reading age of nine months compared to children in normal lessons. So far this year, 450 students have been taught English using the new approach.
Phonics is an engaging, fun and interactive way for children to learn English by breaking down words into sounds instead of memorising whole words. This method of teaching builds a strong foundation for the children’s understanding of English, improving their likelihood of completing higher education and their employability later in life. Click here to find out more about the project.
For the first time this year, we also worked with Colleges of Teacher Training to ensure the future generation of teachers have the skills to teach English effectively. We saw real enthusiasm from the college lecturers and student teachers, who are keen to continue put the new approach to use in the classroom.
This project was the first step in a multi-year programme in partnership with Jolly Phonics that we hope will eventually see the phonics method adopted into the curriculum for all schools in Amhara. Over the next year, we will continue to expand the project to reach a further 40 schools in 4 zones of the Amhara region.