Efficient Learning for the Poor: Insights from the Frontier of Cognitive Neuroscience

The Experiences of Foundation Phase Teachers in Implementing the Curriculum

“…Teachers need to be well oriented on how to effectively use textbooks for effective teaching and learning. On the contrary, Abadzi (2006) defended the use of textbooks and claimed that their effectiveness depends on pedagogically sound, culturally appropriate and durable presentation. Countries such as Ghana, Philippines, Brazil, and Guinea had shown improvement in learner performance due to sufficient supply of…”

“…However, Abadzi (2006) emphasised that teachers need training in the use of textbooks. In South African rural schools, teachers still experience a lack of textbook supply.…”

Ghana Country Study. (All Children in School by 2015: Global Initiative on Out-of-School Children)

“…When children fail to become proficient in the basics of literacy in the language of instruction, they become frustrated and lose their interest in learning. Abadzi's (2006) research on Africa best documents the importance of mother tongue literacy among early primary grade learners and has had significant impact on the design of programming in Ghana (e.g. National Accelerated Literacy Programme NALAP).…”

Is changing teaching practice the mission impossible? A case study of continuing professional development for primary school teachers in Senegal

“…They are first criticised for having demonstrated relatively little evidence of their effectiveness despite the great rhetorical appeal (Abadzi, 2006;Gauthier & Dembélé, 2004). The pedagogies required are much more complex than direct transmission mode of teaching, and their effectiveness depends highly on the knowledge and skills of teachers involved (Barron & Darling-Hammond, 2010).…”