Ethiopia

Jolly Phonics is having a positive impact on literacy levels in Ethiopia

Project Start Date

2014

Implementing Partner

Together We Learn

Government Partners

Amhara Regional Education Bureau, Oromia Regional Education Bureau

Together We Learn (formerly Link Ethiopia) has been supporting synthetic phonics instruction since 2013, beginning with pilots in Gondar (Amhara) and Bishoftu (Oromia). In partnership with Jolly Futures since 2018, the programme has expanded significantly across both regions due to strong collaboration with local education offices and positive results in student learning outcomes.

In Amhara, rollout trainings began in 2019 and have reached 744 schools, with integration into teacher colleges and plans to embed Jolly Phonics in the regional curriculum. In Oromia, pilots started in 2021 and scaled rapidly to 686 schools by 2024/25. Over 1,400 teachers have been trained in each region. Sustainability is supported developing local trainers, and post-training monitoring and mentoring. Positive feedback and strong monitoring data confirm Jolly Phonics' impact on teaching quality and student reading progress.

3Regions

2,854Teachers

342,480Pupils

Number of projects, teachers and pupils that have benefitted from Jolly Futures donations.

Pilots have been conducted in three regions. There is currently a pilot in Oromia that will complete in 2023. A regional rollout took place in October 2022 in Amhara.

Pilot phase

Rollout phase

Sustainability phase

Take a look at the project in action...

Project Reports and Documents

Ethiopia Regional Rollout Report 2022 Final.pdf

Together_We_Learn_-_Early_Years_English_Improvement_-_Final_Report.pdf

LE Early Years English Improvement Project Yr 1- Jolly Phonics Report.pdf

2022 - Together We Learn - Early Years English Improvement - Final Report docx.pdf

Amhara refresher training report (2023).pdf

Project Contacts

Elsa Kebede

Country Director, Together We Learn – Ethiopia

Projects: Ethiopia

elsa@twlethiopia.org

Caroline Walker

Chief Executive, Together We Learn

Projects: Ethiopia

caroline@twlethiopia.org+44 (0)2086173393

Tatek Ezezew

Amhara General Manager

Projects: Ethiopia

tatek@twlethiopia.org

Dawit Megerssa

Oromia Projects Manager

Projects: Ethiopia

dawit@twlethiopia.org+251913850773

Zemene Mersha

Projects Manager – Gondar office, Together We Learn – Ethiopia

Projects: Ethiopia

zemene@twlethiopia.org

Project Partners

Together We Learn is a charity working to increase access to high quality education for children in Ethiopia. They have been working with Ethiopian schools and school communities for over 20 years.