
Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL)
TaRL is an evidence-based, remedial education approach using differentiated instruction. The school-based program targets basic literacy and numeracy skills.

The Challenge
Students worldwide are sitting in classrooms but are not learning. In Botswana, 88% of standard 7 students cannot perform simple division, and 40% cannot read a simple story. National data shows a majority of students are below grade level and automatically move to subsequent grades without acquiring basic numeracy and literacy skills

The Solution
Teaching at the Right Level is a 30-hour differentiated instruction education program designed to ensure every child achieves basic literacy and numeracy. TaRL was developed by Pratham in India and tested rigorously by J-PAL and affiliated researchers for 15+ years across a series of randomized trials. TaRL takes place within the normal school day, groups students by ability rather than age or grade, and teaches using fun and interactive activities

Scaling TaRL
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development has enabled the rapid scale-up of TaRL in Botswana. Through this partnership, TaRL has expanded to 90% of the country's regions, reaching nearly half of all primary schools in Botswana. Youth Impact is also supporting the roll-out and scale of TaRL in Namibia, South Africa and the Philippines. The program is implemented through two primary models:

The results

64%
learn a new
mathematical
operation

50%
increase in no. of learners who can read a story

Illiteracy and innumeracy
decrease by
70%

