What is foundational learning?
Foundational learning, which includes basic literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills, is the foundation for a life of learning. They also foster social and emotional growth, cognitive development, and civic engagement. These skills are critical, helping today¡¯s children become tomorrow¡¯s productive people.
Without foundational learning, students often fail to thrive later in school or when they join the workforce. They miss out on the human capital they need to thrive as workers once they leave school, and the skills that enable them to become engaged citizens and nurture healthy, prosperous families. Importantly, a lack of foundational literacy skills in the early grades can lead to the intergenerational transmission of poverty and vulnerability. These same skills also enable people to reskill or upskill later in life. Lifelong learning unlocks opportunities for lifelong productivity.
Learning is in crisis
A 2022 ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Global Report estimates that 70 percent of 10-year-olds in low-and middle-income countries are unable to read and understand an age-appropriate text. This marks a sharp increase from 57 percent in 2019, reflecting the devastating impact of COVID-related school closures and disruptions on foundational learning. Measuring the gaps and learning outcomes enables the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ to work with countries on strategies and policies to improve foundational learning and address the learning crisis.
Several analyses revealed deep losses due to COVID school closures, with international reading scores declining from 2016 to 2021 by more than a year of schooling. These losses may translate to a . This generation of children could lose a combined total of US$21 trillion in lifetime earnings in present value or the equivalent of 17 percent of today¡¯s global GDP ¨C a sharp rise from the 2021 estimate of US$17 trillion loss.
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ is supporting countries in successfully tackling the learning crisis. The Commitment to Action on Foundational Learning recognizes that foundational learning provides the essential building blocks for learning, knowledge, and skills. It formalizes country commitments at the highest levels to securing foundational learning for all children and to implement policies that will help to achieve .
Investing in the world¡¯s most precious resource ¨C people ¨C is foundational to ending poverty on a livable planet. ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ is the largest external financier of education worldwide, with an active portfolio of about US$26.5 billion in 85 countries. We support resilient, equitable, and inclusive education systems to ensure learning happens for everyone, everywhere. We generate and disseminate knowledge, finance evidence-based interventions and policy actions, and bridge the gap between research and practice.
The necessary ingredients are clear. With enough political commitment, skilled teachers, the proper pedagogy and classroom environment, and adequate implementation capacity, countries can deliver much stronger foundational learning and skills outcomes (in literacy, numeracy, socio-emotional, and other skills), regardless of income level.
The Foundational Learning Compact (FLC) is a ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳?trust created to support country-specific and global efforts to pursue accelerate progress on foundational learning and strengthen education systems for better learning outcomes.
The Accelerator Program, launched in 2020 is a key ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ initiative supported by the Foundational Learning Compact. The program provides country grants, regional expertise, and knowledge exchange, all aimed at improving interactions between teachers, students, and learning materials in the classroom.
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Partners
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ also works closely with UNICEF, UNESCO, the United Kingdom¡¯s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), USAID, the Gates Foundation, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) as the to advocate and provide technical support to ensure foundational learning. ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ works with these partners to promote and endorse the Commitment to Action on Foundational Learning, a global network of governments and organizations committed to halving the global share of children unable to read and understand an appropriate text by age 10.
