By
Yasmin Sitabkhan
Numeracy has received limited attention in discussions around school quality in the early grades, despite evidence that strong early math skills not only predict later academic achievement but may also predict literacy skills, making a case for spending equal time on both math and literacy skills from the very beginning.
Early math achievement is linked to later life outcomes, including secondary school graduation, and earning potential. With the proliferation of technology and STEM-related careers, and the need for strong skills in data interpretation and problem solving, having a strong early math foundation has implications for 21st-century careers more now than ever before.
Upcoming: Three teacher training mini-modules, focusing on number, basic addition & subtraction, and place value have been field-tested in Malawi, and are currently being piloted in Nepal, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa.