Benjamin Piper

Benjamin Piper, a development and education specialist at the Gates Foundation, dives into the critical issue of global literacy. He emphasizes that reading is foundational for learning, enabling skills like numeracy. Piper discusses how ineffective teaching methods hinder progress and outlines six core instructional areas to improve literacy. He advocates for phonics and the importance of accessible reading materials. Additionally, he highlights the benefits of teaching in children's first language and showcases successful programs that doubled literacy outcomes, urging policymakers to act.