Digital innovations for accelerating foundational learning: engaging learners, teachers, parents, and systems

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

Background:
The global learning crisis remains a critical challenge, with over 70 per cent of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries unable to read or understand a simple text. In response, digital innovations have emerged as powerful tools for accelerating foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) outcomes, providing new avenues to engage learners, support teachers, empower parents and caregivers, and strengthen education systems.

Digital solutions are reshaping how education is delivered and experienced: they make learning more interactive and personalized, provide teachers with real-time data for targeted instruction, and give parents and caregivers tools to support learning at home. At the system level, digital tools help monitor progress, optimize resources, and adapt strategies to meet diverse learners' needs.

This panel aligns with the CIES 2025 theme, "Envisioning Education in a Digital Society," by examining how digital solutions can address the global learning crisis. By presenting evidence-based interventions and experiences from different regions, the panel contributes to a broader understanding of how digital tools can be harnessed to accelerate progress toward achieving foundational learning for all children.

The programmes and interventions discussed in this panel aim to address several critical issues: the lack of access to quality foundational learning, the need for continuous teacher professional development, limited parental engagement in children's learning, and the inefficient use of data for decision-making within education systems. These needs are particularly acute in low-resource settings, where gaps in infrastructure, digital literacy, and equitable access to technology persist. By showcasing digital innovations that target these specific needs, the panel highlights scalable solutions that can be adapted to similar challenges in other contexts.

These approaches are grounded in global frameworks such as UNICEF’s RAPID Framework, which emphasizes the importance of real-time data use, adaptive management, and promoting inclusive digital practices. The panel will discuss how these frameworks and methods can be applied to address similar educational challenges in other regions, promoting knowledge transfer and cross-regional collaboration.
This panel will discuss key thematic areas where digital solutions are making a significant impact on foundational learning, highlighting four critical domains: learners, teachers, parents/caregivers, and education systems. Through a series of presentations, it will showcase innovative digital tools, platforms, and approaches that are transforming the educational landscape and driving improvements in FLN outcomes globally.

Session Objectives:
• Highlight Global Innovations: Showcase innovative digital solutions that are enhancing foundational learning, drawing on case studies from countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.
• Examine Barriers and Enablers: Analyze the challenges and enablers for scaling digital solutions in foundational learning, focusing on equitable access to technology and sustainable implementation.
• Explore Policy Implications: Discuss the implications of these digital interventions for national policy and global development agendas, emphasizing the need for coherent strategies that integrate technology into education systems.
• Engage in Cross-Regional Dialogue: Facilitate cross-regional dialogue and knowledge sharing, allowing for a rich exchange of insights and lessons learned from diverse country contexts.

Panel Presentations:
Presentation 1: Scaling Teacher Development through Digital Platforms
Case studies: Guinea, Zambia, Ghana
This presentation will focus on the integration of digital platforms into teacher professional development programs in Zambia and Ghana. These countries have made significant strides in scaling teacher training initiatives using technology, from online learning modules to data-driven dashboards that monitor teacher progress and performance. The presentation will explore the successes of these initiatives, including increased teacher capacity and improved classroom practices, while also discussing the challenges of ensuring equitable access to digital resources, particularly in rural and remote areas. The discussion will emphasize the need for robust policy frameworks to support the long-term sustainability of these digital interventions.

Presentation 2: Digital Solutions for Parental Engagement in FL
Case studies: India, Brazil
In Brazil, digital tools have been increasingly used to enhance parental engagement in children's foundational learning. This presentation will explore how digital platforms have been utilized to bridge the gap between home and school, providing parents with the tools they need to support their children's education at home. Through case studies of specific digital initiatives, such as mobile apps for parents and online resources for early literacy and numeracy, this presentation will highlight the impact of parental involvement on learning outcomes. It will also discuss the challenges of ensuring that parents from all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to these tools, particularly in marginalized communities.

Presentation 3: Data-Driven Decision Making for Educational Systems
Case studies: Ghana, Zambia
The role of data dashboards in educational decision-making is a growing area of interest, particularly in how they can help monitor progress and identify gaps in foundational learning. This presentation will explore the use of data dashboards in Ghana's education system, focusing on how they have been integrated into monitoring teacher performance, tracking student outcomes, and guiding resource allocation. The presentation will discuss the strengths and challenges of using data dashboards, particularly in terms of ensuring that the data collected is inclusive and representative of all learners. The discussion will also address the policy implications of relying on data-driven decision-making in education, and the importance of building the capacity of educational leaders to effectively use these tools.

Conclusion and Discussion:
The panel will conclude with a moderated discussion, bringing together insights from the three presentations to explore the broader implications of digital solutions for foundational learning. Panelists will engage with the audience in a Q&A session, addressing key questions such as:
• What are the most promising digital innovations for foundational learning?
• How can countries ensure equitable access to digital tools for all learners, including marginalized groups?
• What policy frameworks are needed to support the sustainable integration of digital solutions into education systems?
• By fostering a cross-regional dialogue, this panel aims to advance the global conversation on how to best harness the power of digital solutions to improve foundational learning outcomes for all children.

Sub Unit

• Global Literacy SIG

Organizer

• Andile Dube, UNICEF

Chair

• Suman Sachdeva Ph.D, UNICEF

Individual Presentations

• Scaling teacher development and support through digital platforms - Agnes Arthur, UNICEF

• Digital solutions for parental engagement in foundational learning - Fumiaki Sagisaka, UNICEF