Examining the Impact of Akili and Me’s New Content on Tanzanian Children (2020)

Akili and Me , IDELA, Early Learning Skills, School Readiness

Location: Tanzania

Reference citation: Borzekowski, D. L. G. (2018). 

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Study Summary
The study investigated the effects of the educational series “Akili and Me” on children’s learning outcomes. Here’s a summary of the key findings:

Objective: To evaluate the impact of “Akili and Me” on early learning skills among Tanzanian children.

Methodology: A randomized controlled trial where children were assigned to watch either “Akili and Me” or other popular programs. The study measured various learning outcomes before and after four weeks of exposure.

Participants: 568 children from Morogoro, Tanzania, with a mean age of 4.8 years.

Assessment: The study used the International Development & Early Learning Assessment (IDELA) to measure outcomes in drawing skills, shape knowledge, number recognition, counting, and English language skills.

Results: Children who watched “Akili and Me” showed significant improvements in all measured areas compared to those who watched other programs. Specifically, they outperformed their peers by 8.2% in drawing skills, 9.7% in shape knowledge, 11.7% in number recognition, 24.0% in counting, and 12.5% in English language skills after just one month.

Conclusion: The study provides evidence that educational cartoons like “Akili and Me” can have a positive impact on early learning skills, suggesting that such media interventions can be an effective tool for enhancing school readiness in developing countries. This research highlights the potential benefits of using locally-produced educational media to support children’s learning and development.

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