Textbooks and learning materials program: establishing a research based model for the improvement in student achievement through read Malawi: final report of the read Malawi program

Read Malawi was a holistic early grade reading intervention aimed at a) resourcing schools with complementary reading materials and b) training for teachers and school leadership. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported the program through a partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST). Literacy experts at the University of Texas at San Antonio and the Malawi Institute of Education designed and implemented the program, representing the cooperative agreement and sub-awards held by those respective institutions. The focus for the program was on grades I, 2 and 3 and was undertaken in the context of a broader effort at resourcing schools and classrooms with complementary reading materials, teaching materials and training for the teachers through a model of direct coaching. To that end, the work of the program involved three cycles. Phase I was the development phase and included the design and development of the teaching and learning materials in the program. Phase II involved the implementation! feasibility trial, including the training of teachers and school leaders and community mobilization around the intervention. Finally, Phase III was the efficacy trial, including a national rollout of the program to schools across the country.