Digital Story Time (DST) Year 3 Report

The Digital Story Time (DST) project, implemented by eKitabu with funding from iGravity, aims to create a sign-language-rich learning environment for Deaf learners in early childhood education across Kenya through DST video content, teacher training, and support programmes. This report presents Year 3 (endline) findings from the 2025 cohort, in which the intervention was extended to 24 schools for the Deaf. Using a quasi-experimental design, learners' sign-language development was assessed at baseline and endline with the grade-specific Kentalis Observation List (KOL), which rates communicative conditions, understanding, and production on a four-point scale; a complementary teacher survey captured implementation experience. A matched panel of 1,039 learners (536 boys, 503 girls) spanning Pre-Primary 1 to Grade 2 was analysed, with learning gains measured as the difference between endline and baseline mean scores. Learners recorded an average gain of 0.37, exceeding reach targets, though gains varied considerably across grades and schools.

Available from https://evidence.ekitabu.co…