“Dyslexia affects millions of children across Africa, yet for too long, it has remained invisible in our education policies, classrooms, and conversations,” writes Veronicah Wangui.
In June 2025, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, collaborating with the Africa Dyslexia Organization (ADO) brought this issue into focus during a regional webinar.
“In many classrooms, children with dyslexia are mislabeled as slow learners or simply ignored. Teachers often lack training, tools, or awareness to identify and support them. The consequences are severe, including high dropout rates, low self-esteem, and missed potential, especially for girls, who face the double burden of gender-based expectations and stigma.”
The Africa Dyslexia Organization gave innovative solutions during the webinar for teachers. But “Supporting a child with dyslexia is not the job of teachers alone. It requires a team.”