Moses Otai, Country Director, ChildFund Uganda; Chege Ngugi, Africa Regional Director, ChildFund International; and Maxwell Wahome, Group Managing Director, Longhorn Publishers, during the launch of the book distribution in Kampala.

ChildFund and Longhorn Publishers have announced a strategic partnership aimed at improving literacy among early grade learners in Uganda. This joint project worth sh558m will see the printing and distribution of 43,504 books to 72 schools supported by ChildFund across nine local implementing partners. 

The books, intended to reach over 90,000 learners, include English pupil books, Early Grade Reading (ERG) teachers’ books and supplementary readers. These are part of a comprehensive initiative to enhance the literacy competencies of learners in primary one to four. The partnership is intended to run for the next 3 to 5 years, starting June this year.

The Problem 

While mastering the basics of reading in early grades is crucial, many children struggle to achieve this, impacting their overall learning experiences. The situation was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted schooling and left many learners unable to read or recognise letters. 

According to a 2021 UWEZO survey, 55% of grade 3 learners and 35% of grade 4 learners could not read. Relatedly, statistics from a ChildFund global monitoring and evaluation survey in January 2023 indicated that only 17% of children in districts could read a story. 

Project solutions 

Speaking at the event Moses Otai, the Country Director ChildFund Uganda said the project therefore seeks to focus on public schools in 32 districts with 72 schools directly benefiting from the distribution of books and support from nine local implementing partners. 

“Each school will receive at least four teachers’ guides and 20 learners’ books for English per class,” he said, adding that schools already under the ICYD/USAID project but lacking sufficient resources will receive additional support to ensure adequate materials are available. 

Part of the roles and responsibilities of ChildFund under the partnership will include; providing government-approved materials for printing and use in early grade reading, facilitating the distribution of books through local implementing partners, assessing and training teachers in early grade instruction, conducting baseline and endline assessments for teachers as well as facilitating mentorship sessions and organising performance review meetings through local partners. 

Longhorn Publishers on the other hand will contribute to the printing of early grade learning materials, facilitate the training of teachers in early grade reading instruction, participate in periodic project review meetings and build on existing partnerships. 

Charle Sseruwu, the Country Manager Longhorn Publishers Uganda Limited said the project aligns with their mission to enrich lives through knowledge adding that books have the power to change lives thus contributing to the transformative process.

“We endeavour to make books available, transcending geographical, socio-economic status, and language barriers. Through various initiatives such as this partnership with ChildFund, we strive to promote literacy and bring the joy of reading to learners. Every book we distribute is a step toward a more literate, informed, and empowered community,” Sseruwu explained.

Advancing partnerships for improved learning

This collaboration builds on an existing partnership with the USAID/ICYD activity, which also focuses on promoting literacy and numeracy. 

“Partnerships like these are crucial in our efforts to enhance literacy in the early grades. By combining our resources and expertise, we can create meaningful, lasting change in the lives of young learners. Together, we are laying the foundation for a brighter, more empowered future for our children and communities. It is only through collaboration and shared vision that we can achieve the greatest impact,” said ChildFund’s Africa Regional Director, Chege Ngugi.

For more information, please contact:
Cecilia Okoth, Communications Officer, ChildFund Uganda-0740666711 or cokoth@childfund.org