Age Validation of Lesotho Early Learning and Development Standards

In 2017 the Lesotho Ministry of Education and Training contracted the Human Sciences Research Council to age validate their Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) for children 0 – 5 years and determine their appropriateness for children in the country.  

ELOM was selected because it is a rigorous tool based on development indicators.  It was used to assess a sample of preschool aged children in four different ecological zones representative of different cultural and economic environments in Lesotho. Significant age effects were found and some geographic and ecological zone differences on Emergent Numeracy and Mathematics and Emergent Literacy and Language.  

As a result of the age validation study, a revision of the Lesotho ELDS using frequency codes rather than cut-off scores was recommended to allow for greater use of the ELDS in practice.  

This study is a good example of the ELOM being used as a measure to age validate early learning and development standards set in a consultative national process.

The age validation report can be found here.