The High-Level Policy Dialogue Forum (HLPDF) on Foundational Learning, hosted by ADEA in collaboration with the Zambian Ministry of Education, convened from October 31 to November 1, 2023, in Lusaka, Zambia. 

This forum aimed to showcase innovative strategies and practices under the theme “Crafting a New Africa by Rethinking Foundational Learning.” Building on previous educational summits, the event facilitated discussions in four critical areas: promoting national ownership of foundational learning (FL) goals, transitioning from crisis discussions to actionable strategies, sharing insights on teacher recruitment and retention, and improving instructional quality. Key objectives included sharing best practices for long-term FL strategies, discussing policy-level experiences in teaching improvement, and extracting lessons on teacher management.

The forum's outcomes are intended to enhance FL across Africa, reinforcing political commitment leading into the 2024 Year of Education for Africa. Notable discussions revealed persistent challenges, such as poor learning outcomes and inadequate teacher training, alongside positive developments like increased access to early childhood education. Recommendations include promoting early childhood education, enhancing community engagement, advancing structured pedagogy, utilizing data for informed decision-making, and improving teacher education and support.

The conference concluded with a Ministerial communiqué outlining actionable goals, such as developing a foundational learning resource guide and urging Heads of State to champion FL initiatives.