The provision of quality primary education is a challenge in Ivory Coast. 70% of children in rural areas have poor reading and math skills when they leave primary school.
Teachers often have to teach classes with a wide range of abilities, so many children fall behind. Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) is an internationally recognized method that improves children’s reading and math skills. Extensive research conducted by J-Pal in partnership with Indian NGO and TaRL pioneer Pratham has confirmed the effectiveness of the approach.
TaRL uses a simple assessment tool to evaluate children’s abilities, and groups them according to their learning level. Children are then taught intensively for an hour a day in small groups of the same ability. Teachers are trained in this method. The project is part of a national initiative led by the Jacobs Foundation and the Ministry of Education to improve education in cocoa farming communities.