Evidence-based and ministry-led early-grade Arabic reading curriculum reform in Morocco

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

This formal panel will describe the recent efforts undertaken by the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports (MoE) to introduce an early-grade Arabic reading curriculum reform. Called the National Program for Reading (NPR), this specific reform work began in 2011 with assistance from USAID. Over a period of several years, the MoE simultaneously developed and implemented the reform in the early grades while conducting studies to ensure the appropriateness and effectiveness of the design. Studies included a situational analysis to maximize the inclusiveness and effectiveness of program design features, such as supplementary reading materials and remediation initiatives. In time, the MoE continued rollout of the program into the upper primary grades while studying the effectiveness of schools, the Arabic curriculum, and the use of supplementary materials in these grades. Informed by experiences from the rollout and results of these studies, the MoE scaled the reform to all regions in the country while initiating a design to continue into middle school. This session will examine the role played by each partner in the rollout of this reform, as well as the overarching framework used by the MoE to apply research findings to NPR’s design, how results of studies were shared with regional actors, and how ongoing data collection informed the study design, decision making, and adaptation. Presenters will include USAID, the funder; Creative Associates International (Creative), the prime implementer for NPR; Family Health International (FHI360), the prime implementer for the middle school follow-on to NPR; and School-to-School International (STS), the end-of-program evaluator for NPR. This panel will trace the evolution of NPR and decisions taken in designing and launching the follow-on project, Bridge to Middle School. The MoE will provide key insights as a discussant.

Sub Unit

• Middle East and North Africa SIG

Organizer

• Fiona Eichinger, School to School International

Chairs

• Fiona Eichinger, School to School International

• Rina Dhalla, USAIDME Bureau

Individual Presentations

• The history of the National Program for Reading in Morocco and vision for Ministry ownership - Amina El Abdellaoui, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

• Lessons learned from the National Program for Reading: results of the end-of-project evaluation - Fiona Eichinger, School to School International

Discussant

• Fouad Chafiqi, Ministry of education