SEGREM hailed for improving early grade literacy

Early grade literacy is said to have improved among learners in Chiradzulu, Dedza and Mchinji, since the start of the implementation of the Strengthening Early Grade Reading in Malawi (SEGREM) project in October last year.

Mass Communications Officer for SEGREM MacLean Simika made the remarks on the side lines of continued training of standard one to four teachers in the three districts.

He said the project is getting positive feedback from teachers and community leaders, as evidenced by outstanding performance of students as far as the reading culture is concerned.

“We are working with Primary Education Advisers, head teachers, traditional leaders and members of the community and they have assured us that learners from junior primary classes are able to read and are scoring good grades as compared to past years,” said Simika.

Simika added that they have also introduced village reading centers in the three districts where children go to read books and get lessons from Volunteer Literacy Assistants.

The project started in October last year and runs up to September 2017. It is funded by USAID to the tune of 3 million US Dollars.

SEGREM Literacy Specialist responsible for training, Foster Gama, said through continuous trainings, teachers have adopted a different approach on literacy instruction and improved large class management.

“We are making a tremendous progress and we believe by the end of this project the country’s education quality will advance,” said Gama.

SEGREM is implemented by Malawi Institute for Education (MIE) in partnership with the Creative Center for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM).