Extending literacy beyond the classroom: Youth groups and library partnerships for sustainability

• In Event: Libraries to support literacy development: scale, sustainability and impact

Proposal

The presentation looks at the impact of carefully targeted literacy activities through youth groups and the synergies built between libraries, teachers, parents, and children to promote literacy skills outside of the classroom.

Books, literacy, lifelong learning and sustainable development are inextricably linked. Without access to a wide range of reading materials, literacy skills cannot be developed and sustained. This requires going beyond high quality materials in the classroom but access to a wide variety of materials to maintain a habit throughout life (Nyariki and Krolak, 2016). Public libraries support this need and are greatly positioned to expose children to the variety and quantity of materials that is essential for achievement and sustained literacy (Celano and Morgan, 2001). Katz (2014) explains that not utilizing the 23,000 public libraries in the developing world is a significant missed opportunity. As technology becomes prevalent and realistic as a support to education, libraries are well placed to support community learning hubs.

The USAID funded Tusome (Let’s read) Early Grade Reading Activity in Kenya has the overall objective to improve literacy outcomes in Kiswahili and English for Grades 1-3 pupils. The program utilizes various approaches to improve literacy outcomes. By 2019, Tusome is set to benefit approximately 7 million children in public schools and 100,000 children in low cost private schools called, APBET institutions as well as over 77,500 teachers in both public and APBET schools.

In this presentation, we aim to provide options for a tested model that enhances the outcomes of a literacy programme beyond the classroom. The model works through youth led community partnerships, libraries and parental participation.

Under the Tusome-Nakuru County Youth Bunge Forum (NCYBF), the programme sought to engage the youth in improving early literacy skills among Grades 1-3 children in Nakuru County in Kenya.

The Nakuru County Youth Bunge Forum (NCYBF) signed a memorandum of agreement with the local public library, the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS), Nakuru Branch to provide enhanced literacy activities. Through the MOU, KNLS provided reading materials for reading sessions and clubs, they assigned staff to work closely with the NCYBF team on reading activities and provided the space for activities on their premises. KNLS organized and hosted a teachers’ refresher session for selected teachers to enhance their skills in use of digital materials to support early grade reading.

While targeted research is necessary to understand potential impacts, parents, teachers, and local stakeholder observed children reading with confidence during reading exhibitions and the International Literacy Day 2018 celebrations. For the KNLS, Nakuru Branch, this partnership has won great recognition of their head office and caught the attention of international library associations. KNLS was able to accomplish in 2 months what they have previously accomplished in a year. The outreach to parents has sensitized over 6,000 parents and seen 700 parents register their children to borrow books from the library.

The presentation will share the outcomes of the partnership, the effect on children’s literacy skills and the long term benefits to the programme implementation and its sustainability.

Authors

• Brenda Anjuri, RTI International

• Jessica Mejia, RTI International