Quality instruction is critical for teaching children to read, but children also need plenty of practice at home and in the community to develop their reading skills. Copyright: Arne Hoel/World Bank
Reading is the doorway that unlocks learning. Yet for too many children, it’s a door that remains slammed shut. Just two percent of children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa are growing up with three or more children’s books in their homes, and seven out of ten children in low- and middle- income countries are unable to read and understand an age-appropriate text by their tenth birthday, a situation we call learning poverty.
Learning poverty constrains peoples’ potential and erodes countries’ competitiveness. But vibrant youth-led movements are emerging from the long shadows of this crisis, lighting beacons of hope and working to ensure more children experience the benefit of books and reading.
The Youth Declaration, a first-of-its kind charter, was presented at the Transforming Education Summit in 2022. It’s the product of 450,000 powerful youth voices from over 170 countries. The charter presents a common vision for transforming education, calls for increased support for foundational learning to ensure all children engage in literacy activities, and demonstrates that young people aren’t just interested in this issue, they are capable partners and collaborators.
So how can young people build on these foundations and lead meaningful change? Quality instruction is critical for teaching children to read, but the time spent in school isn’t enough: to read with fluency, children need plenty of practice, and opportunities at home and in the community are essential for developing both the skills and will to read.
Through initiatives like Read@Home, the World Bank is working with governments in 18 countries to expand access to quality reading and learning materials, reduce the cost of procuring and distributing books, and support parents and caregivers from the most vulnerable households to engage with their children's learning. Organizing reading sessions and interactive workshops to empower caregivers and build a culture of reading are a core component of Read@Home interventions, and an approach that young changemakers can leverage to build a culture of reading in their communities.
Global campaigns like “Let Me Learn” and “Start the Story” call attention to the scale of the learning crisis and highlight the power of books and stories to transform lives and build better futures. The “BookTok” social media community, where readers review and talk about their favorite books, has boosted sales in book stores. With three quarters of 15- to 24- year olds using the internet, young people play a pivotal part to raise awareness on the issue and share educational resources like the Early Learning Resource Network (which makes thousands of high-quality and enjoyable books available freely).
Join the conversation. Use the hashtag #StarttheStory on social media to share the book that made you a reader and highlight the pivotal power of books, stories and reading materials.
Learn more about how the World Bank’s Read@Home initiative or download print-ready children’s books and learning materials in a variety of languages from the Early Learning Resource Network.
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