FDK Senegal

The FDK (Federation Dimbaya Kanyalen) project aims to raise reading outcomes by implementing a micro level reading skills acquisition approach, Stratégie Active pour la Réusite d’une Ecole Novatrice (SARENA), intended originally to be complemented by comparative data.  The SARENA approach is designed for French speaking students in their first two years of primary school.  SARENA uses a very global methodology, in that, it heavily features word shape and text memorization.  Development of decoding skills is less stressed.  For the sake of external relations, the district-level academic inspectorate received additional training and was made responsible for monitoring, despite its recognized inability to perform well in this capacity.  FDK also features community/parental involvement through the acquisition and use of mobile phones to facilitate communication between teachers and parents.  Other partners include the Bureau Artichaut of Dakar which provides training and materials for SARENA.