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From 2004 to 2007, STS conducted student achievement testing in 48 schools under contract with partner organization Aide et Action (AEA). Over the years, STS and AEA identified a downward trend in student achievement, especially in math from grade 4 to grade 6, as illustrated in the following graph depicting the decline in scores in 2007:
To address this problem, AEA hired STS to identify the areas in which students were having the greatest difficulty, then to develop a focused teacher training program with the aim of improving outcomes specifically in those areas.
Increased math scores
STS researcher Mohamed Diaby administers the Grade 4 math test.
Students take the 2008 Grade 4 math test.
The results
Students in STS intervention schools scored on average 10% higher than the year before, whereas (for unknown reasons) students in comparison schools scored 7% lower.
In two schools - Bawa and Limbita - students scored 32% and 42% higher than the year before.
STS conducted an analysis of these problem areas and found that students were having the greatest difficulties with tasks like borrowing with 2-digit numbers, word problems, etc. On the basis of this analysis, STS developed a series of math modules for teachers to reinforce instruction in these areas.
From January to May 2008, STS trained teachers from the 4 schools with the lowest scores in the use of these modules. At the end of the 2007-08 school year, STS again tested pupils from these schools as well as from 2 "comparison schools" where teachers had not received additional training.
Interpretation
Because of the small sample size, these results cannot be generalized to a larger population of schools. Still, the results suggest what "targeted training" can do to improve student performance: simply by identifying specific problem areas, then providing support in those areas, student performance can significantly improve in a short period of time.
During our training programs, teacher also said they needed to learn more about basic math concepts and how to use active methods to teach their students. These findings will form the basis of our interventions for the 2008-2009 school year in STS schools, after which we will measure our progress again.
2007 scores (over 40 points)
Results of 2008 Grade 4 math test
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