The girl who loves numbers: Ifrah’s journey through tailored learning in Baidoa
How teaching at the right level strengthened Ifrah’s math skills
On the outskirts of Baidoa, within the sprawling Al Camar IDP camp, a quiet change is unfolding in a makeshift classroom under a corrugated roof. At the center of the classroom is 13-year-old Ifrah Mohamed, a bright-eyed girl whose growing confidence and love for mathematics are inspiring her peers and reshaping what is possible for displaced children.
When Ifrah joined Al Camaar School early in 2024, she was shy and struggled with basic reading and numeracy. Living with her mother in difficult conditions, her education had been irregular, and her learning level lagged most of her age group. But thanks to a new initiative introduced at her school, Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), everything has changed.
“I love coming to school and learning new things in different subjects,” she says. “Working in groups with my friends has helped me to build confidence and learn new skills. I always look forward to school. My favorite subject is mathematics. I have gotten really good at it, and now I even help my friends when they need support.”
Implemented by the Bay Regional Education Committee (BREC) with UNICEF support, the TaRL approach tailors learning to each child’s level. Instead of grouping students by age or grade, they are assessed and taught according to what they know. In Al Camaar School, this approach has opened doors for students like Ifrah to catch up and thrive.
“When Ifrah first joined the class, she was very shy and found it hard to keep up with the lessons,” says Teacher Abdi, who has been part of the program from the start. “But with the help of the TaRL activities, especially learning in small groups at her own level, she has really improved. Now, she is one of the most active students in class, especially in math. She is doing well and sets a good example for others.”
The TaRL pilot program, launched in Somalia during the 2023-2024 academic year, focuses on improving foundational literacy and numeracy among children aged 8 to 17 years. It has reached 23,053 children, including over 10,000 girls and 527 children with disability, across five regions. In Baidoa, 13 schools, including Al Camaar, have participated in the program and benefitted over 2,200 children.
Supported by the Government of Finland, the Government of Japan and the German Federal Foreign Office, this innovative method is proving especially effective for internally displaced children. In just six months, students like Ifrah have made remarkable strides, not just in academics, but in confidence as well.
Today, Ifrah is not only catching up, but is also leaping ahead. Her face lights up when she solves a math problem on the board, and she often helps her classmates understand tricky sums. She dreams of becoming a teacher someday, “so I can help others the way my teachers helped me.”
