Project Details

Background

In Bangladesh, the prolonged school closures due to COVID-19 have intensified existing educational challenges. Over 37 million children experienced disruptions in their education, with rural and underprivileged communities facing the most significant setbacks. Even before the pandemic, nearly 50% of learners in South Asia were unable to read or understand a simple text by age ten (UNICEF, 2021). Despite increased school enrollment rates, foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) outcomes remain alarmingly poor.

The current education system's reliance on traditional methods has failed to address these deficiencies. Teachers often lack the capacity to manage catch-up lessons while delivering grade-level syllabi. This situation calls for innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions to bridge the learning gaps.

This project, in collaboration with 10 Minute School (10MS), evaluates two low-cost, low-tech interventions—Video-Driven Learning and Interactive Tasks and Video-Driven Learning + Caregiver Nudging—designed to improve FLN skills among primary school children. Using rigorous randomized controlled trial (RCT) methods, the project seeks to identify effective strategies to enhance learning outcomes in resource-constrained settings.

Project Details

1. Objective

• Improve foundational literacy and numeracy among students in grades 2 to 4 through innovative interventions.
• Explore the differential impacts of these interventions based on gender, learning levels, and caregiver engagement.
• Assess spillover effects on untreated peers in the same schools.
• Compare the cost-effectiveness of the interventions for potential scalability.

2. Target Group

• Primary Participants: Primary school students in grades 2 to 4 across 120 villages in Khulna, Satkhira, and Jessore districts.
• Secondary Participants: Caregivers of these children, engaged through nudging techniques to support their child’s education.

3. Methodology

• Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT):
  • Villages divided into three groups: 
    • Treatment 1: Students receive structured, age-appropriate educational videos and tasks.
    • Treatment 2: Students receive video-based learning combined with behavioral nudges for caregivers.
    • Control Group: No intervention.
  • Baseline and endline surveys to measure learning outcomes, caregiver engagement, and infrastructure conditions.
• Intervention Details:
  • Animated videos (3–4 minutes) tailored to students’ learning levels.
  • Hands-on tasks for children, supported by caregivers, using common household materials.
  • Behavioral nudges via SMS, offering information, tips, and encouragement for caregivers to actively support their child’s learning.

4. Key Results (Expected)

• Enhanced FLN skills among treated students.
• Increased caregiver engagement in their children’s learning activities.
• Positive spillover benefits for untreated peers in the intervention schools.
• Cost-effective and scalable solutions for similar low-resource settings.

5. Financials

• A monthly stipend of $2.50 is provided to participating households to offset mobile data costs.
• The project is jointly funded by GDRI and 10 Minute School, with support from external partners.

6. Sustainability

• Continued collaboration with EdTech platforms like 10 Minute School for content delivery.
• Community-based WhatsApp/Imo groups for peer support and sustained engagement.
• Integration with national education programs for broader reach and long-term impact.