GraphoGame’s success in Iceland reflects the country’s deep commitment to literacy and education. As an evidence-based educational tool, GraphoGame has proven to be a powerful resource in improving reading skills for children and adults alike. Finnish researchers developed the app and offered scientifically validated methods to support early literacy development.
“This is a proud moment for GraphoGame,” says Mervi Palander, Founder and CEO of GraphoGame. “Our mission is to improve literacy for all, and the fact that we’ve reached the top spot in Iceland so quickly speaks to the app’s value in fostering essential reading skills. We’re excited to see such a positive response and look forward to continuing to make a meaningful impact.”
Iceland’s embrace of GraphoGame is a testament to the country’s focus on nurturing literacy from a young age. As literacy remains a fundamental skill for success in the 21st century, GraphoGame provides an accessible and effective solution to support educational progress. The app teaches phonics, letter-sound recognition, and reading fluency through engaging, game-based learning while making the learning process enjoyable.
“Literacy holds a critical value in Iceland today due to its deep-rooted commitment to education and its role in fostering an informed, participatory citizenry. Iceland has historically emphasised literacy, tracing back to its rich literary traditions and the preservation of sagas, and we hold the world record of the highest percentage of the population that are published book authors.”, reflects Vésteinn Gauti Hauksson, CEO of Billboard in Iceland that financed the needed research.
“Iceland now, like many other OECD nations, is facing a growing challenge in child literacy. According to the newest PISA studies, Icelandic children score low in reading comprehension. According to further Icelandic studies, one of the contributing reasons seems to be that many children do not have strong enough foundations in their first steps as readers. So when we heard about Graphogame and especially the many studies that show the positive impact of using the app on students who start their reading journey from a disadvantage, we became excited to bring this learning tool to Iceland. The local study that was done with the municipality of Kópavogur with 8% of Icelandic children in the first grade, when onboarding the app, shows promising results with students that used Graphogame for 7 weeks improving 143% faster than a comparison group when it comes to recognising letters and sounds.”
With almost 8 million downloads worldwide, GraphoGame has established itself as a leader in educational technology. Its launch in Iceland is expected to continue driving improvements in literacy outcomes, providing Icelandic children, educators, and families with a high-quality, accessible tool to foster reading proficiency.
“The rapid uptake of GraphoGame in Iceland highlights how vital literacy skills are to personal and societal success. In an increasingly digital world, the ability to read and comprehend written material opens doors to education, employment, and participation in civic life. GraphoGame’s strong start in Iceland reminds us of literacy’s central role in strengthening individuals and communities,“ concludes Palander.
