'Ceibal is a leading example of how a programme can bring innovative solutions to teachers to potently influence learning.' - Matilde Bordón, World Bank
Life Cycle
2012-Present
Country/Region
Uruguay
Client/Partner
Plan Ceibal
Vision
To support more equal access to education and help young people to have the skills, resilience and networks to find pathways to better lives and develop an international outlook.
Situation
Facing a shortage of trained and qualified English teachers, the Uruguayan government was keen to develop the use of technology in state schools. The result was Ceibal en Inglés, a programme which uses videoconferencing to address the shortage of teachers and reach 75,000 children aged 9-11 in over 720 primary schools across the country.
Skillful use of technology gives the remote teacher real presence in the classroom, enabling effective and motivating real-time interaction. Our international reach and track-record in English language learning means we are well-suited to address this issue.
Implementation
The aim is to take children from beginner level to A1/A2 level on the Common European Framework (CEFR) by the end of grade 6, and to improve the English of the classroom teachers at the same time.
Collaboration, peer support and partnership with the education body Ceibal are at the heart of Ceibal en Inglés, which is centred on an innovative team-teaching methodology. Remote teachers (RTs) and classroom teachers (CT) work cooperatively using a blended learning technique, with the first of the weekly cycle of three lessons being taught by the RT and the two follow-up practice lessons facilitated by the local CT.
Impact
Through Ceibal en Inglés some 280,000 students have learned English since 2012, with 96% of all upper primary students in Uruguay now receiving English classes, 64% of which are delivered remotely. 3,690 English classes a week are now taught remotely by the British Council from Argentina. There are around 3,200 remote teachers participating from all provinces of the country, team teaching with approximately 1,000 local classroom teachers at all types of schools (including urban, rural and priority attention schools).
Test results from 2022 show that 73 per cent of students of Ceibal en Inglés leave primary education with a CEFR level approaching A2 in Vocabulary-Reading-Grammar. Student progress is observed in all socio-cultural levels and results indicate a progressive reduction of the social gap, even being referenced by the World Bank as an example of best practice.
This successful large-scale programme ensures schoolchildren across Uruguay, from the capital to the remotest town, have access to quality English language learning and improved life opportunities.
Mutual benefit
Our work with Plan Ceibal is contributing towards our key objectives in the Americas. By supporting English language teaching we are enabling equal access to education, providing skills to young people to improve their life prospects and promoting social inclusion and opportunities.
We continue working with Plan Ceibal to bridge the gap in access to quality education between urban and rural children. Remote teaching can help overcome inequalities in education by providing access to teachers that otherwise would not be possible. By leading in the delivery of remote teaching using advanced videoconferencing technology, we are helping to further enhance the UK’s international reputation as a global authority in English language teaching.