The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation

A mobile application, in Dari and Pashto that is student-focused, fun, interactive and usable as both a teacher’s aide and for self-study.

Project Name

Using Technology to Improve Primary Grade Reading in Afghanistan

Location Implemented

Afghanistan

Technology Used

Hardware, Software/Apps

Competition Entered

Grant Competition 2014

Reading Skill Targeted

Foundational, Reading

Status

Winner

Collaborators/Partners

Ministry of Education and Liwal Limited

The Challenge

Despite progress in education enrollment in Afghanistan over the past decade, schools still suffer from a lack of materials that appeal to children in grades 1-3. While there is increasing emphasis on technology and literacy, young students still struggle with traditional chalkboards and black and white textbooks and are unable to read and write. Similarly, most teachers in the country also feel unprepared to use technology in the classroom to establish a reading culture and improve reading skills.

The Big Idea

The Foundation trained administrators, teachers and parents on using technology for delivering interactive and engaging literacy lessons, aligned with the Ministry of Education which were provided as an Android application inserted as chips on a phone or into an HDTV. Students were provided with fun storybooks and reading materials for individual learning and practice.

Results

35 principals/headmasters from eight schools in Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces received school management training; eight classrooms equipped with HDTV, enabling instructional training; 8,206 children received workbooks; 178 teachers and 2,726 family members trained on the use of the Liwal teaching application and importance of early grade reading; 58 classroom libraries, stocked with 6,728 local language storybooks, established in the grade 3 classrooms of eight schools in Kandahar and Nangarhar province.