The U.S. Embassy invites media to the launch of the Early Grade Reading Instruction Curriculum Project, a two-year partnership between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the University of Nairobi College of Education and External Studies. Dr. Teresiah Gathenya will represent the U.S. Government. University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor Professor George A.O Magoha will represent the Government of Kenya.

When: Thursday, February 14, 2013, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Where: Kenya Science Campus, Ngong Road, Nairobi

Background: The Early Grade Reading Instruction Curriculum project was designed in response to the All Children Reading Grand Challenge for Development, a joint initiative of the U.S. and Australian governments. The project was awarded a $300,000 grant because it offered an approach to improving literacy outcomes that is grounded in science and technology and that is robust, cost-effective, and scalable.

The U.S. $300,000 grant will support the Department of Educational Communication and Technology at the School of Education to develop the capacity of teachers to enhance reading literacy in pre-unit up to Standard Three. The grant will support the development of high quality, multi-genre, culturally relevant and age-appropriate instructional materials and resources in English and Kiswahili. The project will work with 240 teachers with the expectation that they will have an impact on the reading literacy of 7,200 children during their first year of teaching in schools.

Media interested in attending are requested to contact Robin Johnson to RSVP: Robin Johnson, Communications Specialist, USAID/Kenya

+254 20 862 2332/+254 (0) 719 112 135 /robinjohnson@usaid.gov

Early Grade Reading Instruction Curriculum Project:

Thursday, February 14, 2013, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Kenya Science Campus, Ngong Road, Nairobi