Voices for Learning: A Randomized Trial of Low-Cost Audio Lessons to Improve Literacy and Numeracy Primary Schools

Voices for Learning is a RCT that looks into how low-cost, curriculum-aligned audio lessons can impact foundational literacy and numeracy skills among lower-primary students in public schools in Rongai, Kenya. Persistent early-grade learning gaps require scalable, affordable solutions to support teaching in overcrowded, under-resourced classrooms. The main research question is: Does regular access to structured audio lessons lead to better literacy and numeracy outcomes for early-grade learners compared to the usual teaching methods? The intervention includes short, standardized audio lessons in both English and Kiswahili, designed to align with Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum for Grades PP1 to 3 (ages 4 to 8). These lessons will be delivered 3 times weekly during class periods, using simple radios or MP3-enabled devices, with only minimal support from teachers. The study will randomly assigning 97 public primary schools into three groups: 2-treatment and 1-control. The main outcomes includes standardized assessments of reading skills like letter recognition, fluency, and comprehension as well as numeracy skills, which cover number sense and basic operations. Study examines attendance and classroom engagement, using baseline, midline and endline assessments across one academic year. The project tests a scalable instructional tool that supports learning despite teacher constraints, making it suitable for low-resource educational environments.