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Foundational Literacy & Numeracy

We believe that foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) needs to be the basic starting point of a child’s education upon which all other learning is built. 

Even before COVID, 617 million children worldwide were not reaching basic levels in reading and math, despite most being in school.

In low income countries, 9 in 10 children cannot read with understanding by age ten.

The pandemic has made this crisis worse, especially for young women.

To support EdTech for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, we:

Are a Powerful Convening Platform

The mEducation Alliance membership includes most of the major leading donor and development agency investors for EdTech in low-resource contexts. Many of whom are directly investing in FLN activities.

Are Catalyzing New Networks

Our Math Power! and Literacy League networks and initiatives are designed to strengthen the FLN ecosystem.

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We strengthen the FLN ecosystem by:

  • Matchmaking – local FLN literacy and numeracy-centric organizations and initiatives with each other and EdTech experts and app developers;
  • Advancing – innovative FLN tech and non-tech game-based models and approaches;
  • Accelerating – the use of innovative messaging platforms, including social behavior change campaigns (SBCC), to highlight promising FLN initiatives/interventions. We also feature video-based interviews and other materials on Pulse, our EdTech media channel;
  • Strengthening – the use of sustainable ICTs to support government and local FLN organizations; and,
  • Personalizing Learning – by engaging youth as peer educators and digital ambassadors, including through our Youth Digital Champions initiative, to support FLN community level interventions.

Are Supporting Non-Profit Organizations Through The Math Power! Prize

The Math Power! Prize celebrates the importance of numeracy and honors outstanding organizations promoting the joy of math in their communities and worldwide. Launched in 2022, it’s the first prize of its kind.

Email us to become an annual sponsor.

Are Featuring Presentations on FLN at Our Annual Symposia

Each year, our Symposium brings together global and local voices to explore how EdTech can spark learning in creative, inclusive, and impactful ways.

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Our 2021 Symposium focused on EdTech for Accelerating Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in Low-Resource Settings.  This virtual event brought together global, national, and local policymakers and other leading stakeholders to network and share good practices of EdTech use for FLN. Please see the event page to learn more and visit the FLN Video Show Case page for session recordings. 

Our 2022 Symposium was themed Wondrous Learning is…!  and showcased a variety of initiatives around the world that were awe-inspiring. Among other tracks, A-B-C and 1-2-3 was designated for FLN presentations. 

Our 2023 Symposium themed Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Leaders – Everywhere! included several math-themed tracks and sessions, including  on S.T.E.M. story creation, Making S.T.E.M. Accessible, and S.T.E.M. Empowered Teachers. See the event web  page for the call for presentation proposals and more information.

Help Spread the Love of Math Worldwide by Supporting our Activities!

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FLN Presentations Featured at the 2023 Symposium 

onebillion

Developing effective EdTech for marginalized children to acquire foundational numeracy: insights from Malawi’s nationwide BEFIT programme

Nat Dinham, Partnerships Lead

Learning Equality

Achieving FLN Competencies through Tech-Enabled, Project Based Learning in Low-Internet Contexts

Laura Danforth, Head of Global Community Engagement

Imagine Worldwide

STEMpowering Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in Malawi and Beyond

Nat Dinham, Partnerships Lead

Youth Impact

ConnectEd: Evidence on the Effectiveness of Phone-Based Tutoring Programming to Support Basic Learning Competencies

Colin Crossley, Program Manager (ConnectEd)

University of Nottingham

Using mobile technologies to support the acquisition of basic mathematics with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Nicola Pitchford, Professor

Resources

2024 FLN Landscape Report
2023-2024 FLN CoP Landscape Report

Jax Chaudhry

Jax Chaudhry leads Project Invent, a national nonprofit that empowers youth with future ready mindsets for individual success and global impact, through invention. Originally from the Southside of Chicago, Jax loves working with students, families and partners to ensure every student can attain success as they define it. For more than 10 years, she has worked with elementary schools, high schools, education nonprofits and led regional teams and operations to ensure student success.

Michael Leventhal

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning scienceMichael Leventhal is co-founder of RobotsMali, a pedagogical and AI4D laboratory and STEM education center in Bamako, Mali. RobotsMali has trained thousands of students from elementary school to high school in computer science, robotics, and artificial intelligence, coached national robotics teams that have won 32 medals in international competitions, and developed technologies using AI and robotics for the social and economic development of Mali. Before becoming an educator in Mali, Michael worked as a technologist in Silicon Valley.s, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.

Enouce Ndeche

Enouce Ndeche is the founder and Director of Vijana Amani Pamoja ,VAP a community scheme based in Nairobi Kenya that uses the power and the popularity of the game of soccer/football as a catalyst for social, educational and economic empowerment.Enouce holds a degree in sociology from Egerton university and he is also the 2020 individual award recipient “Diversity and Inclusion Eminent Leader Award Enouce is also a certified Sports Philanthropy and Executive, George Washington University and is a 2023 Gratitude Network fellow.

Kenneth Y T Lim

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning sciences, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.