Gaming as a visual learning aid - Yam Wekre

Introduction

Supported by the Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa (RTIA) Facility, the Yam Wekre pedagogical tool is a visual learning aid consisting of 302 images covering 29 educational themes. It enhances participatory, inclusive, and play-based learning for preschool and early primary education. By engaging children in hands-on, interactive activities, it fosters cognitive, psychomotor, and socio-emotional skills development. The tool is particularly effective for large class sizes and can be adapted for visually impaired children.

In Burkina Faso, preschool education faces multiple challenges, including a lack of qualified educators, insufficient pedagogical resources, and a limited use of interactive and play-based learning methods. This affects early childhood development and the quality of education provided to children aged three-to-six years old. The need for innovative, scalable, and inclusive teaching solutions is critical to improving preschool education in the country.

This project seeks to improve the quality of preschool education by training 720 preschool educators and inspectors in play-based and inclusive teaching methods using the Yam Wekre  tool. To support implementation, 503 Yam Wekre kits will be distributed to 360 preschool education centers. The initiative will also establish teacher support networks and monitoring mechanisms to ensure effective application of the methodology. Furthermore, advocacy efforts will be carried out with the Ministry of Education to integrate the Yam Wekre tool into the national preschool curriculum, ensuring long-term sustainability and impact.

Objectives

Overall objective: To improve the training and teaching methods of teaching staff through the widespread use of the ‘Yam Wekre’ picture book and its playful, participatory pedagogy in pre-school structures in Burkina Faso.

Project activities

• Training teachers and supervisory staff in the use of ordinary and inclusive images and their pedagogy.
• Advocacy with the Ministry of Education and its partners to ensure its involvement in the provision of Yam Wekre kits to all pre-schools.

(Expected) results

• The pedagogical skills of teaching staff (supervisors, educators, monitors, teachers) are strengthened.
• The Yam Wekre picture book and its teaching methods are disseminated in pre-school structures.

Implementing Partners

Enabel, Association Sœur Emmanuelle - Asmae