ADEA’s Commitment to Foundational Learning

In the face of a learning crisis where nine out of ten African children are not achieving basic literacy and numeracy skills, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) has strategically prioritized Foundational Learning (FL).

FL encompasses the essential literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills that learners acquire in the early grades. Early Childhood Education (ECE) lays the groundwork for successful foundational learning by preparing children for school. These foundational skills form the bedrock upon which all subsequent learning, knowledge, and higher-order skills are built, fostering a continuous path towards lifelong learning.

By focusing on this area, ADEA aims to ensure that every child in Africa has the necessary skills to succeed in their educational journey and beyond. ADEA’s comprehensive approach to FL ensures that children are not only prepared for school but are also equipped with the essential skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. This approach is pivotal in improving educational outcomes and fostering overall development across the continent.

ADEA’s approach to Foundational Learning

ADEA is committed to raising awareness and visibility about the importance of FL among governments, partners, and stakeholders. Recognizing the gravity of the learning crisis, ADEA focuses on FL to address this challenge at its root.

To build expertise and contextual understanding, ADEA has leveraged insights from the continent's diverse education practices, and developed a comprehensive knowledge product. This reference document is rooted in both formal and non-formal educational experiences across various age groups. It addresses common core skills holistically, underscoring their lifelong relevance and supporting policy and programming decisions with a collaborative, context-sensitive approach.

Tool development is a key aspect of ADEA's strategy. For instance, the Association has co-created relevant resources, such as the Foundational Learning Starter Pack, to guide countries in implementing FL. This ensures that the resources are tailored to meet the specific needs of various educational systems and contexts.

Partnerships and collaborations are central to ADEA's efforts. By engaging in high level events such as the high-level policy dialogues, ADEA has been fostering a collaborative environment for discussing and promoting FL. Supporting and collaborating with partner convenings further ensures that efforts are not duplicated and resources are optimally utilized.

Ministerial and leadership engagement is another critical component of ADEA's approach. Building coalitions with ministers and engaging champions for FL helps to advance the FL agenda at the highest levels. Strengthening the links between Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Early Grade Education, and promoting structured pedagogy and age-appropriate teaching methods, are also crucial in ensuring a seamless educational transition for children.

This comprehensive approach ensures that foundational learning is prioritized, improved, and integrated seamlessly within the broader educational landscape, ultimately equipping children with the necessary skills to thrive in their educational journey and beyond.

ADEA’s Achievement Highlights in Foundational Learning

• Policy Dialogues: ADEA has successfully convened policymakers, implementing partners, development partners, and other education stakeholders to advance FL agenda. Key events and outcomes include the Ministerial Declaration from the 2022 Triennale and the Ministerial Communique from the 2023 High-Level Dialogue Forum, both emphasizing the importance of FL. 
• High-Level Advocacy: The President of Zambia agreed to champion FL, enhancing its visibility and encouraging stakeholders to prioritize FL.
• Ministerial Coalition Engagement: ADEA has engaged the African Ministerial Coalition and gained commitments to improve FL. A pre-AU summit event in early 2024, in collaboration with Human Capital Africa (HCA), UNICEF, and the Dangote Foundation, launched a call to action on FL.
• FL Resources: ADEA developed and shared the Common Core Skills for Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development. Additionally, a Foundational Learning Starter Pack has been produced and is being disseminated.
• Inter-Country Quality Node on Early Childhood Development (ICQN-ECD): This platform will continue to emphasize the importance of ECD and ECE, which lay the groundwork for successful foundational learning.
• Research Insights: ADEA partnered with the Global Education Monitoring Report and the African Union to produce the Spotlight series on Basic Education Completion and Foundational Learning. The first report, "Born to Learn" (2022), synthesizes evidence on learning outcomes and informs SDG 4 / CESA benchmarks. The second report, "Learning Counts" (2024), focuses on strategies for foundational numeracy skills. These reports include in-depth analyses and insights from various African countries, contributing to informed policy dialogue and peer learning.

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