Unlocking Quality Education: Analyzing Teacher Behavior in the Implementation of Catch Up in Zambia

This brief applies a behavioural science lens to analyse how teachers implement Zambia’s Catch Up programme, a nationwide adaptation of the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach designed to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy among primary learners. 

Conducted by Busara, VVOB and TaRL Africa in partnership with Zambia’s Ministry of Education and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the research explores behavioural barriers and enablers that influence teachers’ capability, opportunity and motivation to plan and deliver Catch Up lessons effectively. Key insights: low self-confidence among many teachers, gender gaps in stress and training access and strong social norms that encourage collaboration. The findings inform the design of scalable, evidence-based initiatives to improve teacher motivation and programme fidelity. This brief is valuable for education practitioners seeking to integrate behavioural insights into professional development and system-level improvement initiatives.