Catch up learning program

Context and Issue

Several schools across Zambia, Kabanda Primary School grapple with a shortage of educators. The school contends with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 78:1. Merely five teachers are assigned to supervise various grades spanning from Early Childhood to grade 9. To manage this deficiency, the school operates in two shifts – one in the morning and another in the afternoon – with classes typically commencing at 7:00 am and concluding at 5:20 pm. More than half of the schools in Luapula province have adopted multiple shifts to address the scarcity of teachers.

Solution

Catch-Up is an educational intervention designed to assist students falling behind in their studies by helping them "catch up" to their peers. These classes take place outside of regular school hours and prioritize teaching basic skills in language and mathematics using interactive methods such as play and games. Students are placed in groups based on their comprehension level rather than their age, and they advance to the next level after mastering each subject competency. Teachers guide students through the material step by step to ensure full understanding and use personalized assessments to monitor progress. Catch-Up aims to provide child-friendly instruction and ensure no student is left behind academically.

Impact

In Luapula Province, 23 provincial and district staff members have undergone orientation in the Catch-Up program, along with 773 teachers and 291 mentors who have received training to implement and support the lessons. All participants have story cards, teacher guides, monthly learning trackers, money cards, and other instructional materials to enhance their teaching. These materials are affordably provided to ensure the sustainability of the program and its continuous use in schools.

Once teachers implement the catch-up lessons in April 2022, over 44,000 Grade 3 to 5 learners will benefit directly from this initiative. The training on Catch-Up's learner-centred methodologies has already been completed, and the lessons have been implemented in Muchinga, Northern, Western, Lusaka, Eastern, and Southern provinces. With the inclusion of Luapula province, this effort will cover eight out of the ten provinces in Zambia.

Innovative educational interventions like Catch-Up are important in addressing systemic educational challenges, particularly in regions with prevalent teacher shortages. Initiatives like Catch-Up can transform educational outcomes and promote inclusive education practices by prioritising student learning and providing tailored support.

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