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The Improving Teaching Skills on Playful Learning for Africa’s Youngest (IT’S PLAY) project, from 2021 to 2025, set out to shift this trajectory by bringing play back into early years education. Through its innovative approach and funding from the LEGO Foundation, the project aimed to strengthen learning through play as an effective pathway to nurturing young children’s emergent literacy and numeracy while supporting their social and emotional growth.
Reimagining Learning in Uganda’s Pre-schools
At the core of the IT’S PLAY project was a fresh, contextually grounded take on Teacher Professional Development. Rather than providing only theoretical frameworks, the programme equipped teachers with practical tools: detailed examples of playful activities paired with guidance on child observation and self-reflection.
This approach connected deeply with teachers and parents alike, tapping into their desire to see children succeed academically, while showing that play could enhance this success. By making play purposeful and linking it to early literacy and numeracy, the project gave teachers the confidence to integrate it meaningfully into their classrooms.
Working at Every Level
In Uganda, IT’S PLAY worked hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), local schools, and teacher training institutions to create sustainable change. The programme:
- Integrated learning through play into national teacher training manuals, aligning with Uganda’s Early Learning Framework.
- Trained 26 ECE teachers across eight schools, reaching 2,370 children – nearly double the original target.
- Strengthened the skills of 47 lecturers from 23 Primary Teacher Colleges ensuring that the next generation of teachers can embed learning through play from the start of their careers.
- Supported MoES departments, including the Directorate of Teacher and Education Development (TETD) and the Basic Education Department (BED), in monitoring and promoting learning through play.
Real Change in the Classroom – and Beyond
When children learn through play, they enjoy themselves, they socialise, they build team spirit. More importantly, enrolment is boosted because children love coming to school. Their memory improves too. Play is the way to go.
The success of IT’S PLAY has resonated beyond classrooms. The Ministry of Education and Sports has publicly championed play-based learning. In April 2024, Uganda marked its first-ever National Day of Play, celebrating the power of play to support children’s lifelong learning.
Through participation in the national Learning through Play Community of Practice, VVOB has worked alongside government and academic institutions to promote this shift in mindset and policy. The Community of Practice is a vibrant network of educators, researchers, and decision-makers committed to transforming early learning in Uganda.
Looking Ahead
The results of the IT’S PLAY project point to a clear path forward. With teacher manuals approved by the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), the materials developed are now suitable for use across Uganda. Rooted in local culture and context, they respond directly to the needs of Ugandan educators and learners.
VVOB plans to build on this foundation. By leveraging its role in the learning through play Community of Practice and the strong partnerships forged through the project, VVOB will:
- Support more teachers and tutors to adopt play-based methods
- Advocate for learning through play to be embedded in national education policies
- Collaborate with new and existing donors to expand the programme’s reach
Most importantly, VVOB remains committed to ensuring that every child in Uganda has the opportunity to learn through play, growing not just academically, but emotionally, socially and creatively.