Promoting Emergent Literacy in the Revised Rwandan Pre-primary Curriculum

Emergent literacy is one of the most important foundational abilities children must develop before beginning primary school. The process of becoming literate begins very young, and many early experiences can contribute to emergent literacy. If children do not develop emergent literacy skills, however, the consequences can be costly both to individuals and to society. Low achievement in literacy correlates with low educational achievement, high rates of school dropout, poverty, and underemployment later in life. This position paper focuses particularly on literacy, but much the same can be said about the importance of emergent math. Early reading, writing, and math skills develop concurrently and in an intertwined manner.