Improving reading proficiency in early childhood education classrooms: evidence from Liberia

Michael Sebele, Jeffery McManus, Mtise Mwanza, Leah Mwai and Mico Rudasingwa

Journal of Development Effectiveness, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 450-466

Abstract: The Rising Academy Network’s FasterReading (FR) programme is a phonics-based approach to reading instruction. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to study the impact of the FR programme for early childhood education (ECE) students in Liberia from January to July 2022. We find that ECE students exposed to the full programme saw a 0.28 SD gain in reading proficiency compared to children who received none, although our estimates are imprecise due to non-compliance. Given the programme’s standardised implementation and low variable costs, we project that it may be at least as cost-effective and scalable as other primary literacy programmes.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/19439342.2025.2540954

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