There are few things more important for children to master than literacy: the skills of reading and writing that enable them to learn other subjects, participate politically, protect their health, and enter the labor market with promising prospects. Yet about 20 percent of the global adult population is illiterate, and in Latin America, two-thirds of […]

The post The Cost-Effectiveness of Early Interventions appeared first on Ideas Matter.

We all remember a favorite teacher from school, often a teacher who taught us to read and write and introduced us to the world of literacy. Literacy, after all, is part of the journey to knowledge in all subjects, and is crucial for our future health, political participation, and professional success. It is hardly surprising […]

The post Teaching Teachers to Boost Early Literacy appeared first on Ideas Matter.

Studies in recent years have documented the detrimental effects that low-achieving students can have on the academic performance of their classmates. This is of concern everywhere, but particularly so in Latin America and the Caribbean where test results for reading, math, and science lag considerably behind those of OECD countries and where most students need […]

The post How Improving the Performance of Weaker Students Benefits All Students appeared first on Ideas Matter.

Tens of millions of children across Latin America and the Caribbean will be returning to school in 2021 and 2022, handicapped by learning losses from COVID-19 shutdowns that have lasted longer than in any other region of the world. Very young children, those from vulnerable and rural households, and those with learning difficulties, will face […]

The post Boosting Literacy Amid the Educational Crisis of COVID-19 appeared first on Ideas Matter.

We’ve all known kids who joke around in class, get up to mischief, and even skip school altogether, yet manage to ultimately thrive. But they are glaring exceptions. Classroom misbehavior and absenteeism, along with failing grades, are strong warning signs that a student is likely to repeat a grade or give up on school altogether […]

The post Text Messaging Parents to Boost Student Performance appeared first on Ideas Matter.

As Covid-19 threatened the health and economic survival of millions of people around the world, the pharmaceutical industry, academia, and the public sector rallied to make quick and decisive investments that have led to better treatments and vaccines that could soon turn the corner in the fight against the disease.    If that was the reaction the health crisis demanded, however, the global response to the […]

The post Boosting Global Innovation in Education appeared first on Ideas Matter.

On May 15th, 2020, there were 450,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 25,000 related deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the absence of a cure or a vaccine, countries in the region have resorted to lockdowns and physical distancing to reduce the rate of infection and avoid overwhelming national health systems. […]

The post Poor Health, Poverty and the Challenges of COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean appeared first on Ideas Matter.

Progress for women in Latin America and the Caribbean over the last few decades has been impressive. Many women now take center stage in the arts, business, music, politics, science and the sports world. Laws equally protect women, and the increase in their labor force participation has been rapid, rising 17 percentage points in the […]

The post Gender Inequality in Latin America: The Long Road Ahead appeared first on Ideas Matter.

As parents, we want schools to teach values as well as academic subjects. We want them to impart to our kids qualities like patience and grit — traits that experts in education have long understood to be as important to academic and professional achievement as the ability to do math and use language. Yet, despite […]

The post Persevere and Triumph: Teaching Grit and Patience for School Success appeared first on Ideas Matter.

Teaching is one of the most important professions, vital to a nation’s long-term dynamism and productivity. But it is simply too hard to get all but the most dedicated teachers to commit to long-term careers, when, as in Chile and the United States, they make two-thirds of what people of a similar educational background earn. […]

The post Keeping the Best Teachers: Is Money the Answer? appeared first on Ideas Matter.

“Ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.” This is one of many important targets set by the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2015. How hard will it be to achieve this goal by 2030? Answering […]

The post Ensuring Access to Quality Early Childhood Development: Anything but Child’s Play appeared first on Ideas Matter.

International literacy day on September 8th offers a new opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of literacy to individuals and society. Being able to read and write can impact people’s lives on many levels. It can enable a person to read a sign on the street, enjoy reading a book, complete an education, land […]

The post The Beauty of a Bedtime Story appeared first on Ideas Matter.

Latin America has a breast feeding problem. But before getting into the details, let me note that August 1-7, 2015 is World Breastfeeding Week. The line-up of sponsors is impressive. This annual event is coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), a global network of organizations and individuals that promote breastfeeding worldwide. Partners […]

The post Breastfeeding: The Best Recipe for a Healthy Start appeared first on Ideas Matter.