Higher Education and Early Grades Literacy Development in Nigeria: USAID’s approach

• In Event: University partnerships for sustainable development: the case of the Nigeria Center for Reading Research

Proposal

This presentation will discuss the relationship between investment in higher education and the improvement of reading outcomes for children in Nigeria, from USAID’s perspective. USAID has supported several reading initiatives in Nigeria, including the Northern Education Initiative Plus and Education Crisis Response. USAID’s support of the NCRRD is intended to enhance the sustainability of these programs, by improving the training offered to pre-service and in-service reading teachers, developing the skills of faculty researchers, and increasing local capacity to lead reading interventions.

First, this presentation will cover USAID’s higher education policy globally. Then we will discuss the connections between higher education investments and basic education outcomes in northern Nigeria. We will also cover USAID’s approach to education investments in Nigeria generally.

Authors

• Janet Thomas, USAID Nigeria

• Koli R. Banik, US Agency for International Development (USAID)