To help bridge educational gaps in Mali, EDC trained 12- and 13-year-olds to provide tutoring to younger students.
Before the pandemic, teachers were taking up the challenge to transform literacy instruction. When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to derail the effort, EDC trained 12- and 13-year-olds to provide basic instruction outside of school. Older students tutored younger “brothers and sisters” on the alphabet, read simple stories with them, and taught them how to decode words and write simple sentences.
The results were astounding. The tutors and tutees formed strong bonds and learning flourished. After eight weeks, the younger students, who were most in need of support, learned basic literacy skills and could recognize familiar words (0% recognition pre-tutoring, 79% post-tutoring). The tutors felt great pride, and some saw glimmers of a future as a teacher.