sQuid to present its white paper findings on Driving Literacy and Digital Literacy at the 2021 mEducation Alliance Symposium

We are delighted to be invited to present the findings from our recently released white paper titled ‘Driving Literacy and Digital Literacy – Lessons from iMlango in Kenya’ at the 2021 mEducation Alliance Symposium.

The mEducation Alliance is focused on promoting the usage of good EdTech practices and improving the effectiveness of EdTech initiatives globally, and are dedicated to increasing the demonstrable and sustainable impact of EdTech for learners in formal and non-formal educational settings. 

As previous presenters and attendees, we have found the symposium to be a great forum to discuss how progression can be made in improving literacy levels across the world. This year’s symposium will convene over 70 presenters, representing 22 countries, who will showcase their work in a variety of participatory formats including gallery walks, lightning talks, panels, plenary sessions, virtual exhibits.

The symposium runs from the 27-30 September. Our presentation is scheduled for 08:30 EST / 13:30 BST / 15:30 EAT on Tuesday 28 September. Make sure to register here to attend the presentation and gain insight on the findings from delivering a whole school literacy initiative for 180,000 children in marginalised settings over the last seven years.

sQuid contributes to the dialogue on education during the Global Education Summit

This week UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta co-hosted the Global Education Summit in London. The Summit’s aim was to raise funds for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), which is aiming to secure at least $5 billion over the next five years to get 175 million more children into learning around the world.

To coincide with this landmark event, sQuid published its white paper on Driving Literacy and Digital Literacy – Lessons from iMlango in Kenya presenting findings from delivering a whole school literacy initiative for 180,000 children in marginalised settings over the last seven years.

In the paper we advocate that a new mindset is needed in approaching the digital education ‘white space’. We encourage policy makers to engage in partnerships with digital players as well as academic and pedagogical experts.

We show evidence that new digital teaching and learning methodologies can deliver significant improvement in education outcomes.

Click here to access the white paper

White paper findings include:

• Teachers’ own digital devices are creating an accessible network and have the potential to become a tool for teaching improvement

• Teachers can make the shift to using online resources in whole class literacy settings

• Parents will engage in literacy learning for their children in marginalised settings

• iMlango established a pilot pathway for at-home literacy learning using a digital tool, in marginalised environments

• iMlango can point to clear positive trends in literacy improvement through its data

To access the white paper and summary document, please click here

UK Foreign Secretary visits Kenya to strengthen ties on important topics including girls’ education

Photo credit: FCDO

Mr Raab is demoed the iMlango At-Home Learning App

Dominic Raab, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State, visited Kenya this week to meet with President Uhuru Kenyatta and discuss strengthening ties between the UK and Kenya on a number of important topics, including trade, climate change and education.

iMlango supports the UK and Kenya's emphasis on education, especially girls’ education, in these discussions. Our programme in rural Kenyan communities has helped support better education outcomes for over 200,000 children over the last seven years.

Mr Raab had seen what can be achieved by a strong UK-Kenya relationship focused on education in October last year when sQuid - iMlango’s lead operational partner in Kenya - welcomed him to their head office in the UK, where they showcased the iMlango At-Home Learning App.

The app provides important online access to learning resources for students when schools are closed due to Covid-19.

After seven years of working in rural schools and in seeing the effects of the pandemic on learning loss over the past year, here at iMlango we look forward to supporting the Kenya and UK Governments by continuing to deliver improved learning outcomes using our in-school and at-home EdTech services.

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