Teaching at the Right Level in Somalia
Learning Case Study
About
In Somalia, access to quality education has been severely weakened by decades of civil war, ongoing insecurity, and recurrent droughts and floods. Strengthening foundational learning through both formal and alternative pathways is critical, as out-of-school rates remain high – 65 per cent at primary and 75 per cent at secondary.
In 2024, working with government and local partners, UNICEF piloted a programme called Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), an evidence-based approach that focuses on grouping children by their actual learning level rather than by age or grade. The pilot demonstrated strong learning gains: 18,750 children studying at the equivalent of Grade 3 level improved their foundational reading and mathematics skills through TaRL after just eight months of daily one-hour courses.
