In early 2018, the Ministry of Education (MoE) took a bold step toward improving early grade literacy by launching a pilot study to test the effectiveness of Jolly Phonics in Zambian schools. Supported by the Permanent Secretary for Education, the pilot took place in 22 government primary schools across Ndola District in the Copperbelt Province, and Lusaka District in Lusaka Province. Successes scored led to the programme being scaled up and rolled out across the Copperbelt Province to all Grade 3 classes in 2022 and 2024 . By the year 2024, the focus shifted to sustainability — Beyond Ourselves Zambia (BOZ) invested in building local capacity by developing district-level trainers across the province. Simultaneously, high-level discussions with the Ministry of Education paved the way for national expansion, using a phased approach.
In February 2025, Central Province successfully completed its rollout of the programme in Grade 1, becoming the second province after the Copperbelt to do so, and marking a major milestone in Zambia’s journey toward nationwide English literacy transformation. During the rollout, 2215 Grade 1 teachers were trained and equipped with skills and resources to deliver the programme in their classes. A further 130 education officials were trained in how to monitor and mentor the implementation of the programme using the Jolly Monitor App.
In mid-2025, Jolly Phonics was then rolled out in Grade 1 Classes in Luapula Province, making it the third province in Zambia to do so. Intensive two-day training running from 4th to 16th May saw 1625 Grade 1 teachers and senior teachers trained, along with 130 education officials, who included District Resource Centre Coordinators (DRCCs), District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) and Zone In-Service Coordinators (ZICs). The event marked one of the province’s largest literacy-focused capacity-building efforts in recent years.
To support effective teaching in schools, a total of 1,780 Jolly Phonics Teachers Guides were distributed to teachers during the training sessions. These materials are expected to significantly enhance phonics-based instruction methods across schools in the region, as they are also aligned to the revised 2023 Zambian Education Curriculum Framework.
The training was initiated in response to a growing concern over low literacy levels at early childhood education stage in the province as well as in the country. According to local education authorities, foundational reading skills remain a critical gap in many learners’ development, which this training sought to directly address.
"This is not just a training; it's a movement toward empowering our educators with tools that make reading more accessible and fun for children," said one of the Provincial Education Officers overseeing the initiative.
With strengthened teaching competencies and increased access to phonics tools, the province aims to improve reading outcomes and give children a stronger start in their educational journeys.
Credit and appreciation goes to all the key partners who made the Provincial Jolly Phonics training a resounding success. Appreciation goes to the Ministry of Education for entrusting BOZ with the national mandate to deliver Jolly Phonics training across the country and whose leadership and commitment to improving literacy have laid the foundation for this transformative work. Gratitude also goes to Jolly Futures and Jolly Learning Limited for their unwavering support, especially in providing funding and essential teaching and learning resources. This donation has ensured that both educators and learners are equipped with the tools they need to succeed.
The training would have also not been possible without the team of dedicated trainers who left their respective stations and went an extra mile – travelling far and wide to various districts across Zambia to deliver training to educators. Their professionalism and sacrifice is truly commendable. The BOZ team is applauded for their seamless organisation and coordination of this massive undertaking. Its behind-the-scenes efforts have brought structure, energy and heart to the event, ensuring that everything ran smoothly from start to finish. The collective efforts of all these players are helping to shape a brighter future for Zambia’s children – one phoneme at a time.
