Design, Validation, and Effectiveness of an Offline Mobile Digital Learning Model for Enhancing Early Grade Reading and Literacy Skills among Out-of-School Children in Bauchi State

Saidu Mansur Adam, Abdulrahman Bala, Mohammed Abdulkadir, Amina Muhammad Sani, Adamu Ladan Adamu, Usman Dahiru Jibrin, Yahuza Shehu

Abstract


This proposed study focuses on the development of an offline remote learning package designed to address the persistent challenge of out-of-school children in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Bauchi State is estimated to have over 1.37 million out-of-school children, largely due to socio-economic hardship, inadequate educational infrastructure, cultural practices, and limited access to digital connectivity, particularly in rural communities. These conditions make conventional online learning approaches unsuitable for the target population and necessitate alternative, context-appropriate solutions. The main objective of the study is to design, validate, and evaluate an offline remote learning package that responds directly to the educational needs of out-of-school children in Bauchi State. The proposed intervention aligns with national education priorities and global commitments to inclusive and equitable education, particularly the goal of ensuring access to quality basic education for all children. The research is structured into two phases. The first phase involves the development of the learning package using the CommCare application, which allows educational content to be delivered without internet access. Locally relevant early grade reading materials will be developed through collaboration with education specialists and informed by a comprehensive mapping of out-of-school children in the state. The second phase evaluates the effectiveness of the package using a quasi-experimental design involving 360 children aged six to twelve years, divided into experimental and control groups. Learning outcomes will be assessed through pre-test and post-test measures of early grade reading skills. Data will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study aims to improve short-term access to quality education and to propose a scalable, sustainable model for wider application. A clear research gap exists in the limited availability of empirically tested offline learning interventions tailored to out-of-school children in low-resource settings. 


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