Accelerator Program Knowledge Forum: Exemplifying the Call to Action on Foundational Learning
WB, UNICEF, GATES, FCDO
The Accelerator program is an initiative together with governments that demonstrate strong political and financial commitment to fighting learning poverty. The purpose of this pre-Summit Ministerial Exchange was to center Accelerator governments that are taking significant action to improve their foundational learning outcomes, to share their experiences and lessons, to guide and inspire others. While country challenges vary, a set of evidence-based interventions have successfully improved foundational learning across contexts. This session shared knowledge and lessons learned from these interventions to ensure that more countries are ready and motivated to take significant action to accelerate foundational learning outcomes.
The meeting discussed the Accelerator Program process of target setting and building a realistic and costed investment case, and elaborated on the actions that can be taken to improve reading proficiency levels rapidly and at-scale in the key areas of:
- Assuring political and technical commitment to making all children literate;
- Ensuring adequate amounts of effective literacy instruction by supported teachers;
- Providing high quality, age-appropriate books and texts to children;
- Teaching children first in the language they speak and understand best;
- Fostering children’s language abilities and love of books and reading.
Speakers: Ministers of Education and Governors from Accelerator governments, Civil Society partners and the heads of Education from the Organizations leading the Accelerator Program globally; Julius Jwan, Principal Secretary, Basic Education, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Kenya; Joan Osa Oviawe, Commissioner of Education, Edo State Government, Nigeria; David Moinina Sengeh, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and Chief Innovation Officer for the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sierra Leone; Gaspard Twagirayezu, Minister of State, Primary & Secondary Education, Ministry of Education, Rwanda; Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Pakistan, Carmelita Rita Namashulua, Minister of Education, Ministry of Education & Human Development, Mozambique, Ibrahim Natatou, Minister of National Education, Niger; Izolda Cela, Governor, Ceara state, Brazil; Jaime Saavedra, Global Director of Education, World Bank; Robert Jenkins, Global Director, Education and Adolescent Development and Participation, UNICEF; Benjamin Piper, Director, Global Education Program, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Albert Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary, Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA); Asyia Kazmi, Global Education Policy Lead, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (moderator).