A Quasi-Experiment of “Akili and Me” (Rwanda)

• In Event: Researching Children’s Media in the Global South

Abstract

“Akili and Me” is an animated program created in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania that teaches early educational skills. Before broadcast occurred in Rwanda, a study was conducted in a peri-urban community 30 km outside of Kigali, with 404 children (mean age= 7.1 years). In a randomized controlled trial, children saw ten episodes of the treatment (Akili and Me) or control (available children’s shows) programming. Researchers worked one-on-one, administering the International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA) before and after a two week intervention. Controlling for the child’s sex, age, and baseline skills in the assessed outcome, exposure to “Akili and Me” was significantly predictive of higher scores in drawing, shape knowledge, number recognition, counting, and English. This study provides important data that locally-produced educational media can effectively and efficiently impact school readiness and early education. Such media efforts need to be supported, especially in low and middle income countries (LMICs).

Authors

• Agnes Lucy Lando, Daystar University

• Evariste Karangwa, U of Rwanda

• Michael Kipyego Bowen, Daystar U

• Mussa Chale, Ubongo Learning

• Sara Olsen, U of Maryland

• Dina L. G. Borzekowski, School of Public Health, University of Maryland