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Learners sitting in a classroom engaging with a teacher

Policy Complexity and the Case for Openness in Education Systems

Despite the best policy efforts, education systems have often been characterized by closed knowledge systems, narrow conceptions of success and achievement, and a failure to fully empower teachers as facilitators of learning. Our recently published paper argues that, although these issues may have multiple causes, a critical problem is that many education systems are inhibited by complex policy environments that inadvertently encumber meaningful learning and generate educational closure.

Celebrating Reading: Supporting the Foundations of Book Provision

Celebrate International Literacy Day by uncovering the foundations of book provision! Join us in ensuring no more books are lost forever. Visit the Early Learning Resource Network for more info.

African Librarians Support the UNESCO OER Recommendation

In August 2023, the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions and Neil Butcher & Associates (NBA) co-published an Overview for African Librarians on the UNESCO OER Recommendation and Open Knowledge. A William and Flora Hewlett Foundation grant to NBA funded the research and writing entailed in producing the Overview.

Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) Training

Successfully Transitioning the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Online Training Hub

This case study documents the successful transition of South Africa’s Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) Online Training Hub (OTH) to a National Department of Health (NDoH) Knowledge Hub platform.

Young girl sitting at a desk and writing on a miniature chalkboard with a piece of chalk

Researching Open Educational Resource (OER) policies

Well-designed and implemented national policy is an indispensable tool for creating and sustaining vibrant Open Educational Resource (OER) ecosystems and promoting OER adoption. A new report by NBA provides insight into the current global OER policy landscape, tracking the prevalence of national OER policy development and implementation.

Open Licensing in Education - Infographic

This infographic provides an explanation of open licensing and how to use open licensing to increase access to high-quality teaching and learning materials, including textbooks and storybooks.

World Read Aloud Day 2023

With an estimated 70% of 10-year-olds unable to understand a simple written text, days like World Read Aloud Day take on extra significance, given how important reading aloud is in a child’s early literacy development.

International Day of Education "To invest in people, prioritize education" - 24 January 2023

The fifth International Day of Education is celebrated on 24 January 2023 under the theme “to invest in people, prioritize education”.

What parallels can we draw between this day, the OER Recommendation and OER capacity building?

NBA appointed as learning partner for new initiative on Learning through Play in the ECD sector

NBA is excited to join VVOB and Ntataise on a new LEGO Foundation funded project focused on professional development of ECD practitioners and teachers on learning through play. The project will run over the coming four years, with the first in-person team meeting taking place in Durban from 11-13 January 2023.

NBA will play a central role in the development of the Theory of Change and MERL plan, and will conduct in-depth research to test different professional development modalities to better understand the contexts in which blended learning can support the sector.

What does transforming literacy spaces mean to you? Early literacy Q&A part 1 of 3

International Literacy Day has been celebrated annually since 1966. This year’s theme is ‘Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces… an opportunity to rethink the fundamental importance of literacy learning spaces to build resilience and ensure quality, equitable and inclusive education for all'.