A new tool to measure if children are really learning — Foundational Learning Skills Module
A new tool to measure if children are really learning — Foundational Learning Skills Module
https://data.unicef.org/resources/the-foundational-learning-skills-module/
More children are going to school than ever before – but many still aren't picking up basic reading and math skills. Being enrolled doesn't always mean a child is learning. This is particularly concerning when children are first learning to read and do math, as these foundational skills set the stage for future learning.
The challenge is that while we have good data on school attendance, we don't have enough comparable data on what children are actually learning – particularly across different countries and over time.
To address this data gap, UNICEF developed the Foundational Learning Skills (FLS) Module in close collaboration with partners – a standardized tool to measure whether children have basic reading and math skills. The FLS Module is part of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), the world's largest source of comparable data on children and women.
What the Foundational Learning Skills Module does
Measures if children (ages 7–14) can read with understanding and do basic math
Uses short, child-friendly activities administered by trained interviewers in the home
Assesses reading through oral reading and comprehension questions
Assesses numeracy through number recognition, comparing numbers, basic addition, and pattern recognition
Leverages existing MICS infrastructure to reach many children efficiently – in the latest round it covered 46 countries and about 230,000 children in over 10 languages