Lessons in Literacy: 8 principles to ensure every last child can read

Over the last several decades the world has made incredible progress in getting children into school.

However, there is more work to be done to ensure that every last child is learning. While the focus on access to school has been important, it has been prioritised over the quality of learning, leading to what has been termed a ‘global learning crisis’.

Lessons in Literacy draws on evidence from Save the Children’s four-year global focus on literacy from 2010 until 2015, the aim of which was to reverse the crisis in learning.

As part of the initiative, Save the Children tracked 35 programmes in 22 countries in order to identify best practice and the areas where more work is needed in the future. Save the Children’s experience has informed the development of 8 principles for effective literacy action which are detailed in this report and executive summary.

This report calls on governments to develop National Literacy Action Plans and National Reading Campaigns, as well as take action to address the 8 Principles presented in this report.

Only by doing all of these things, and doing them now, will we have a chance to ensure every last child can read by 2030.