Nairobi: The International Rescue Committee (IRC), in collaboration with consortium partners Plan International and War Child Alliance, and supported by the LEGO Foundation, has launched PlayMatters 3.0. This new phase of the flagship education initiative aims to bolster holistic learning and wellbeing through Learning through Play for pre-primary and primary school children.According to African Press Organization, PlayMatters has been working with Ministries of Education, teachers, school leaders, and communities across East Africa to enhance teaching quality in challenging contexts. The program has surpassed its initial target by reaching more than 984,000 children and has been implemented in over 950 schools across Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.Learning through Play is an active teaching method that enables teachers to deliver the curriculum through engaging, child-centered, and participatory approaches. This method supports children's learning, wellbeing, and active participation in the classroom.P layMatters 3.0 marks a shift towards embedding and sustaining effective practices at scale, stated Martin Omukuba, PlayMatters Project Director. By collaborating with national education systems and supporting teachers, this phase aims to expand the reach of Learning through Play to more children, providing access to engaging learning environments.Rather than creating a separate curriculum, PlayMatters integrates playful and inclusive approaches into existing national education systems. The program has collaborated with Ministries of Education and education actors to co-create teaching resources that are adaptable to local contexts and utilize locally available materials.New elements in PlayMatters 3.0 include enhanced teacher professional development pathways, deeper integration of Learning through Play into existing systems, and a crisis modifier to support flexible education responses during climate shocks, conflict, and other disruptions impacting children and schools.Mary Winters, Senior Program Man ager at the LEGO Foundation, emphasized the importance of the initiative by stating that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive, even in challenging circumstances. The partnership invests in children's learning and aims to build stronger education systems and resilient communities for the future.Emerging evidence supports the program's impact at scale. In Ethiopia, a Randomized Controlled Trial demonstrated significant improvements in children's numeracy, literacy, and socio-emotional skills, highlighting its cost-effectiveness compared to similar interventions.In Uganda, Learning through Play has shown improvements in classroom practice, teacher-pupil relationships, and wellbeing. These findings reinforce the evidence that Learning through Play enhances both teaching quality and children's learning experiences.The initiative also contributes to long-term sustainability by investing in teacher training, professional development, and system integration. In Tanzania, a Learning through P lay module on the Tanzania Institute of Education's e-learning platform provides wider access to teacher development, ensuring continued uptake beyond direct project support.PlayMatters 3.0 will continue to build partnerships with Ministries of Education, teachers, communities, and partners to create resilient, inclusive, and joyful learning environments for children.
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