Learning to Read: A Path to Improving Arabic Literacy in MENA

Introduction

Prior to Covid, learning poverty affected 63 percent of children in MENA’s low- and middle-income countries who were unable to read and comprehend a short story by age 10. Because of the pandemic-related disruptions to schooling, the proportion of those deemed “learning-poor” is now estimated by the World Bank to be as high as 70 percent—almost an entire generation of learners.

Solutions are needed to urgently tackle learning poverty across the region. The World Bank’s report on Advancing Arabic Language Teaching and Learning: A Path to Reducing Learning Poverty in the Middle East and North Africa (available in Arabic and English), and the subsequent joint World Bank-Queen Rania Foundation (QRF) series of six webinars on Conversations on Advancing Arabic Language Teaching and Learning, featuring experts from across the region and the world, shone a spotlight on the challenges and the systemwide efforts needed to improve reading and Arabic literacy outcomes.

At the same time, a global movement is underway to support governments’ efforts to transform and sustain improvements in education, including through the Transforming Education Summit of September 2022 and the related national discussions.

Objective and expected outcomes

The Conference will build on the positive momentum created by the above report and webinar series highlighting the status of learning poverty in MENA—utilizing newly released 2021 PIRLS results and other data sources—and showcase research and country strategies to illuminate a path to reducing learning poverty in the MENA region. The Conference offers: (a) a venue for knowledge sharing and technical discussions around recent research and practical examples for high quality teaching and learning per the revised path; and (b) a platform for policy makers to agree on concrete next steps to improve teaching and learning Arabic in MENA. Following the conference, proceedings will be available to inform policy and decision making, knowledge sharing, and collaboration to raise awareness of the issues and options for raising literacy outcomes in the region.

Modality

The 2-day conference will focus on policy and practical approaches/solutions to reducing learning poverty in MENA. It will include an opening plenary on the status and importance of foundational literacy for MENA’s development; a keynote speech with a call to action; and presentations on the latest research on Arabic language teaching and learning. In addition, the conference will showcase, via poster sessions, experiences and initiatives across MENA countries in relation to the World Bank’s proposed path to advancing Arabic literacy in MENA.

The opening and closing sessions would be recorded and recordings would be available on this page and the World Bank pages after the conference [TBD]