In this episode of the Right to Read Initiative Podcast, Dr. Kathryn Garforth speaks with Dr. Moustapha Fall about the concept of “partial literacy”—a term he developed to describe the experience of children who grow up speaking their mother tongue but have limited opportunities to learn to read and write in that language.
The conversation explores the realities of literacy education in Senegal and across Africa, examining how colonial histories, language policies, and education systems have shaped children’s access to literacy in their home languages. Dr. Fall and Dr. Garforth also discuss bilingualism, the transfer of literacy skills between languages, cultural and linguistic preservation, and the role of families and communities in creating literacy-rich environments.
The discussion highlights practical pathways for addressing partial literacy, including strengthening home and community literacy, supporting multilingual education, and developing writing systems that reflect the distinctive characteristics of African languages. The episode offers an important perspective on the relationship between language, identity, culture, education, and every child’s right to read.