Language of instruction in schools in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Nakamura P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10546270 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Language of instruction in schools in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.
Nakamura Pooja P Molotsky Adria A Zarzur Rosa Castro RC Ranjit Varsha V Haddad Yasmina Y De Hoop Thomas T
Campbell systematic reviews 20231003 4
Based on the theory of change, we gather, organize, and synthesize the evidence on the impact of three language of instruction (LOI) choices (teaching in mother tongue [MT] with later transition, teaching in a non-MT language, or teaching in two or more languages at one time) on literacy and biliteracy outcomes. We focus on quantitative and qualitative studies of LOI interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and consider languages that are commonly spoken in the developing world. ...[more]
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Project description:To address the evidence gap in making effective language of instruction (LOI) decisions, we propose a systematic review of the role of LOI choices in education programs and policies on literacy outcomes in multilingual educational contexts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Grounded in a multidisciplinary theory of change (ToC) describing what factors link LOI choices and literacy outcomes, we will gather, organize, and synthesize the evidence on the specific role of the three LOI choices described in the ToC (teaching in mother tongue [MT] with later transition, teaching in a non-MT language, or teaching in two or more languages at one time) and its impact on literacy and biliteracy outcomes. We will focus our systematic review and meta-analysis only on quantitative and qualitative intervention studies from LMICs as these have the highest relevance for decision making in multilingual LMIC contexts. We will also only include languages that are relevant and commonly spoken in LMICs. For example, we will likely include studies that examine Arabic to English transfer, but not Arabic to Swedish transfer.
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Project description:Family planning (FP) vouchers have targeted subsidies to disadvantaged populations for quality reproductive health services since the 1960s. To summarize the effect of FP voucher programs in low- and middle-income countries, a systematic review was conducted, screening studies from 33 databases through three phases: keyword search, title and abstract review, and full text review. Sixteen articles were selected including randomized control trials, controlled before-and-after, interrupted time series analyses, cohort, and before-and-after studies. Twenty-three study outcomes were clustered around contraceptive uptake, with study outcomes including fertility in the early studies and equity and discontinuation in more recent publications. Research gaps include measures of FP quality, unintended outcomes, clients' qualitative experiences, FP voucher integration with health systems, and issues related to scale-up of the voucher approach.
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