With an adult literacy rate of only 41%, the majority of Guineans are still unable to read or write, which has an adverse effect on the county’s development, security and stability. Reading methods for teaching have never been formally taught to teachers, making it difficult for them to convey reading skills to children in the classroom.

The USAID reading instruction program, which trained nearly 15,000 educators in Guinea in 2003, encourages the creation of classroom reading materials designed to capture children’s interest and imagination. Teacher’s guides describing specific ways for teaching reading skills and games that will help children enjoy learning to read were also provided.

All children in grades 1 & 2 have their own set of story books to use in class, and to take home to share with friends and family. The use of storybooks designed particularly for Guinea coincides with the emergence of children’s literature in Guinea; colorful children’s stories that range from traditional to very contemporary African tales are appearing more and more in bookstores as the fledgling industry begins to take off.