Emergent Literacy in Early Childhood Education in Zambia

This manual, developed by the Ministry of Education in Zambia and reproduced under VVOB’s IT’S PLAY project with support from the LEGO Foundation, provides foundational guidance on teaching emergent literacy in early childhood education (ECE). It adapts Zambia’s National Literacy Framework (2013) to the context of ECE, offering a detailed explanation of oral language development, print awareness, phonological and phonemic awareness, vocabulary, reading and writing.

The publication serves as a theoretical and practical reference for teachers, helping them develop early literacy skills through play-based and language-rich learning. It emphasises holistic, interactive approaches aligned with children’s linguistic and developmental stages, and includes strategies for inclusive education and differentiated learning for ECE learners with special needs.