Basic education

To advance inclusive and accessible education for all students—with and without disabilities—in the same classroom, UNICEF Paraguay implemented the Accessible Digital Textbooks for All (ADT) initiative , incorporating principles of the Universal Design for Learning that recognise the value of individualised and differentiated learning. Preliminary…

UNICEF, together with Sierra Leone's Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, conducted a national baseline assessment in 2021 to establish the reading and numeracy skills of 4,729 students (2,348 girls) in Grades 2 and 4. The study revealed that nearly a quarter of the 476 teachers surveyed had only a basic education and lacked certified…

To tackle the declining performance of learners in early grade literacy and numeracy, Zambia’s Ministry of Education piloted Catch-Up, a remedial programme based on the Teaching at The Right Level (TaRL) methodology. Catch-Up targets learners in Grades 3 to 5 by dedicating one hour per day for interactive lessons. Classes are facilitated by…

We are in a learning crisis. To give young people the best chance to succeed, we need to support them holistically. The first step is to identify where children and youth are in building the range of skills they need, monitor progress in their development and ensure no child or young person is left behind. The Recovering Learning report published…

Despite solid policy efforts towards inclusion, children with disabilities remained overlooked because teachers lacked training in inclusive practices. To bridge this gap, UNICEF, the Ghana Education Service and Inclusive Development Partners piloted a programme from 2019-2021 with 15 first grade teachers, headteachers and district-level staff in…

The near universalization of primary schooling is one of the great global achievements of past decades. In the early 1950s, some 50 per cent of primary school-aged children worldwide were out of school. Today, that figure stands at 11 per cent. Still, the most marginalized children remain cut off from primary education – deprived of their right to…, UNICEF's response, Children at the playground of the primary school of Gado Badzere, in the east of Cameroon. Children smile on the playground of the primary school of Gado Badzere, in the east of Cameroon. The Sustainable Development Goals call for all children to complete free, equitable and quality primary education, leading to relevant and effective learning…, Resources, Publisher Title UNICEF Tracking Progress on Foundational Learning RTI International Science of Teaching website World Bank Learning Poverty briefs World Bank Cost-Effective Approaches to Improve Global Learning UNESCO, McKinsey & Company Remedial Education Toolkit  , Learn more

DUBAI, 12 December 2021 – Accenture, Dubai Cares, Microsoft and UNICEF announced today the launch of a global, digital learning platform for young people. Operating under the Generation Unlimited partnership, the Passport to Earning platform aims to address the global education crisis – currently exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic – and prepare…

In 2020, students across Sri Lanka lost up to 141 school days due to COVID19-related closures, with the number going up to 178 lost days in some regions. When schools reopened in August 2020, the provincial government rolled out the Learning Recovery Programme to minimise the learning gap between where the learner actually is and the grade…

In Jamaica, 85 per cent of children under the age of 15 experience different forms of violence in their homes, schools and communities. Since 2014, UNICEF has been supporting the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to contextualise, pilot and scale up School-Wide Positive Behaviour Intervention and Support (SWPBIS) Framework  in all…

NEW YORK, 15 December 2020 – “The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on children’s education around the globe. Vaccinating teachers is a critical step towards putting it back on track.  “At their peak in late April 2020, nationwide school closures disrupted the learning of almost 90 per cent of students worldwide. While that number has dropped…

The learning crisis the world is facing today has its roots in children’s earliest years, when failure to invest in quality early childhood education results in children starting school not ready to learn and succeed. Millions of children are entering education systems already behind in a host of critical skills they need to succeed in primary…

Education systems are complex. Getting all children in school and learning requires alignment across families, educators and decision makers. It requires shared goals, and national policies that put learning at the centre. It also requires data collection and regular monitoring to help policymakers identify what’s working, who’s benefiting, and…, Innovation in education, Innovation in education is about more than new technology. It’s about solving a real problem in a fresh, simple way to promote equity and improve learning. Innovation in education comes in many forms. Programmes, services, processes, products and partnerships can all enhance education outcomes in innovative ways – like customized games on solar-…, UNICEF’s work to strengthen education systems, UNICEF works with communities, schools and Governments to build strong, innovative education systems that enhance learning for all children. We support data collection and analysis to help Governments assess progress across a range of outcomes and strengthen national Education Management Information Systems. We also develop comprehensive…, More from UNICEF, Resources, Education Sector Analysis Guidelines: Volume 1 ( English , French , Spanish , Portuguese and Russian ) These guidelines support ministries of education and their partners in undergoing sector analysis and developing education sector plans. Education Sector Analysis Guidelines: Volume 2 ( English , French , Spanish , Portuguese and Russian ) These…