Developing High Quality Pre-Primary Programs: USAID Education How To Note

• In Event: Play to Win: how to use learning through play to develop the whole child

Proposal

Access to high-quality pre-primary education can provide significant benefits to children, including
improved learning outcomes,1 increased school completion rates, and greater likelihood of attending
tertiary education.2 At a system level, high-quality pre-primary education can reduce grade
repetition3 and decrease dropout rates,4 thereby improving the overall efficiency of the education
system.5
• Pre-primary represents only one component of early childhood development (ECD), which includes
links to nutrition, health, and safety to ensure children have the best start in life. Wherever possible,
pre-primary programs should strive to leverage and build links with other sectors.
• Quality pre-primary education is characterized by strong teacher-child relationships,6 play-based
learning approaches,7, individualized and inclusive instruction, and an attention to holistic
development.8
• USAID’s interest in pre-primary education is in increasing access to high-quality pre-primary
programming, especially for the most marginalized and vulnerable, with a focus on improving
learning outcomes

Authors

• Koli R Banik, USAID

• Michelle Neuman, University of Pennsylvania