Some exciting news around our research on language and reading skills in schools in Nigeria.
Last week (22nd July 2025) UNICEF invited our co-author/co-investigator (Dr. Louise Gittins) from our research partner Universal Learning Solutions to present at the African Union “Proven Solutions for Foundational Learning in Africa” in Addis Ababa.
The event, hosted by UNICEF, the African Union and the Gates Foundation, was to summarise and talk about scaling what has worked for improving learning in Africa.
The event included ministry representatives from countries all across the continent. Owing to our research and interventions since 2003 synthetic phonics, has been identified as one of only a few initiatives that has had any real impact over the last 20 years.
Louise’s presentation included the findings from our research papers and projects here at Newcastle University (Dixon, Humble, Counihan (Northumbria), Gittins (Universal Learning Solutions)).
The Validation Workshop on Scalable Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Practices to End Learning Poverty in Africa culminated in the writing of a report that will be published by UNICEF. This will include a whole section on our work, with a proposal that all countries in Africa should adopt our recommendations around heritage and English learning in schools across the continent.
