Engage
Conduct small, rigorous RCTs in select schools using ALfA.
8-10 February 2027
GlobalLearning Lab
2027Accelerating FLN
Policy is in Place. Now Pedagogy.
Download Brochure
Concept Note
More children are in school than ever before – but are they learning the crucial foundational skills of literacy and numeracy? Are they developing 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking? If you are looking for solutions that build both FLN and create deeper, holistic, more joyful learning, then this conference is for you! The Global Learning Lab 2026, a three-day conference, brings together education leaders, policymakers, NGOs, researchers, and funders to share insights, scale and embed proven solutions. The event features pre-conference global research and Rapid Results Initiatives (RRIs), that deliver swift measurable FLN improvements. This actionable evidence will guide system-wide adoption of innovative strategies to accelerate quality education for all.
Uttar Pradesh has been conducting a large-scale experiment, implementing the innovative Accelerating Learning for All (ALfA) program in 9 districts. This has produced impressive results in third party assessments and the government PRS test. In the Global Learning Lab, you can witness ALfA transforming learning outcomes at scale in government and private schools.
Conference Objectives
Spotlight Robust
Global Research
Gain insights into future-ready, scalable, and sustainable FLN solutions, based on research and results worldwide.
Actionable
Strategies
Take home tools and frameworks to implement high-impact, low-cost FLN programs;access materials immediately.
Global
Collaborations
Build networks and find partners to support scaling and impact efforts and establish collaborations to sustain impact.
Scalable
Frameworks
Develop actionable strategies for integrating solutions like ALfA into national education systems.
Bringing Together
Education Ministers & Policymakers
Sharing insights on scaling foundational learning at national levels.
International Organizations
Bringing global insights and shaping global educational priorities.
Researchers & Practitioners
Presenting evidence-based approaches and innovations.
NGO & Community Leaders
Highlighting grassroots success stories & collaborative strategies.
Corporate and Philanthropic Partners
Commitments to global contributions and partnerships to boost FLN.
Proposed Schedule
Day 1
EVIDENCE AND INSPIRATION | Theme : Ignite the Path to FLN Success
23 FEB, Day 1
Opening Ceremony
- Welcome Address by Key Dignitaries
- Keynote: The Global Learning Gap in FLN – Why Accelerating Progress Matters
- Video Presentation: Global FLN Success Stories and Critical Areas for Action
Session 1: Evidence from Successful Programs
- Group Sharing: Best practices from countries that have advanced FLN
- Case Studies: Innovative strategies driving measurable FLN improvements
Panel 1: Boosting FLN Through Evidence-Based Pedagogy
- Discussion: Pedagogy's role in FLN acceleration
- Focus: Reducing global FLN disparities by 2030
- Brainstorming: Solutions tailored to cultural and infrastructural diversity
Breakout Rooms
- Parallel sessions on the conference themes (overleaf)
Day 2
STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION | Theme: Accelerate FLN
24 FEB, Day 2
Session 2: Targeted Strategies for FLN
- Presentations: Literacy, numeracy, and teacher training strategies
- Focus: Leveraging collaborative, data-driven tools for swift results
Session 3: Data-Driven Success
- Insights: Using real-time data to monitor FLN progress
- Workshop: Tools and assessments for effective FLN tracking
Roundtable 2: FLN in Diverse Contexts
- Case Studies: Solutions for urban, rural, and marginalized regions
- Focus: Adapting FLN approaches to local languages and contexts
- Recommendations: Strategic initiatives to prioritize FLN globally
Breakout Rooms
- Parallel sessions on the conference themes (overleaf)
Day 3
OPTIONAL EVENTS | Theme: Showcase, Explore, and Innovate
24 FEB, Day 3
FLN Success Expo
- Exhibits: Tools, materials, and practices boosting FLN globally
- Interactive Displays: Real-life classroom examples demonstrating FLN success
Field Visits
- Guided School Visits: High-impact FLN practices and Q&A with educators
- Optional Tour: Experience the rich cultural heritage of Lucknow
Conference Themes
Next Strategies for Literacy
Mastery
Global & Local Perspectives on Literacy
Policy Leadership for Driving Systemic
Change
Adversity to Opportunity: Challenges & Solutions
Fast-Tracking SDG4: Alliances for
Global Impact
- Charting a Future Roadmap for Education
- School-Based Rapid Results Initiatives
- Community-Driven Rapid Results Innovations
- Government-Led Rapid Results Initiatives
- Best Practices Grounded in Research and Evidence
- Embedding 21st Century Skills, Climate Education and Social-Emotional Learning
- Leveraging Education Technology and AI
- Gamification and Interactive Learning
- Culturally Responsive Pedagogies
- Literacy and Numeracy in the Global South
- Literacy and Numeracy in the Global North
- Promoting Mother Tongue Literacy
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems
- Advancing Equity & Inclusion in Education
- Girls and Women Education
- From Research to Impact: Scaling Proven Educational Innovations
- Embedding Accelerated Learning Approaches in Education Systems
- Transforming Teacher Education and Professional Development
- Leadership for Educational Change: Global Success Stories
- Shifting from Gatekeeping to Enabling Policy Frameworks
- Rethinking the Role of International Development Organizations
- Reforming Accountability Systems
- Cross-Border Policy Collaborations
- Public-Private Partnerships
- Education for Refugees and ConflictAffected Regions
- Adult Literacy Innovations: Building Foundational Skills Across Generations
- Literacy: Challenges and Solutions
- Numeracy: Challenges and Solutions
- Supporting Learners with Disabilities
- Non-Traditional Learning Spaces
- Bringing the World Together in a Time-Bound Mission
- Foundational Skills: A Lift-All for the Sustainable Development Goals
- Meeting SDG4 Ahead of Time
- Funding and Supporting FLN Research, Scaling and Embedding
- Monitoring and Evaluation for SDG4
- Regional Education Coalitions
- Cross-Sector Advocacy & Partnerships
Why Lucknow? Why Dignity Education? Why CMS?
Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh (India's most populous state) is the birthplace of ALfA—Accelerating Learning for All—developed through two decades of research and extensive fieldwork in slums, villages, government and private schools. Lucknow has a unique confluence of innovation, inclusion, and community.
Dignity Education Vision International (Dignity Education) , is an educational not-for-profit registered in India and the US. It has been pioneering research-based innovative solutions for quality education. Dignity Education has partnered with governments, organisations, and NGOs around the world, to showcase the power of a disruptive pedagogy.
City Montessori School (CMS): City Montessori School, Lucknow, is the world's largest schools by number of pupils, a Guinness Record holder, and the world's sole school recipient of the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. CMS has served as a giant laboratory for innovative educational practices like ALfA.
Research & Implementation Partners
We look forward to collaborating with you!
Pre-Conference Rapid Results Initiatives (RRIs)
The Global Learning Lab 2027 hinges on practical, evidence-based approaches to pedagogy. Prior to the conference, participants are invited to engage in a 45-day Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) in their own contexts to implement the RRI that facilitates policy integration through three phases:
Expand
Broaden ALfA's implementation across a region.
Embed
Integrate ALfA's resources and methodologies into education systems.
Who: Ministries of Education, NGOs, and partner organizations working in collaboration with governments at local, regional and national levels.
Accelerating Learning for All (ALfA)
FAST
HOLISTIC
TRANSFORMATIVE
ALfA literacy and numeracy program has scaled rapidly from 20 schools to 17,000 government schools in India within two years, along with research implementations in 12 countries. Impressive early results indicate that the program is among the most cost-effective in the world, with significant learning gains (average: 0.48 SD) and costing just $4 per child. Toolkits are now available in 33 languages including Arabic, Chishona, Dari, English, French, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Twi and Yoruba.
key features of ALfA Pedagogy
Draws upon children's prior knowledge and hands-on experiences to discover new
learning.
Interactive 1:1 paired learning without differentiation helps children learn faster and retain more.
Embeds 21st century skills and traits like collaboration, critical thinking, citizenship, climate-conciousness.
Teachers are galvanizers. They demonstrate how to work in pairs, ask questions, and guide students in paired hands-on activities.
Comprehensive FLN Booster Package
ALfA provides a process-led structure to reach FLN goals swiftly, at scale. This includes online and in-person training options, unique learning materials, universal standardized FLN assessments, and ed-tech tools that include learning, data & report generation apps.
Thin Booklets
Low cost, low carbon,
low psychological burden
Free EdTech Tools & App
Supplements & provides learning on devices at home & school
Learning Materials
Locally available, sustainable,
reusable
Teacher Training
Highly participatory, Online/Offline
Teacher Handbook
Simple, visual instructions
& video repository
Assessments
Scanning app enables instant analysis and reports
Prof. Reimers & Team at Harvard GSE, USA, 2023
ALfA RCT Results Published In "Rebuilding Education Systems After the Covid-19 Pandemic"
The effect size of the project was 0.23 for Grade 3 students and 0.89 for Grade 5… the results suggest there is significant value in pursuing the ALFA model in other schools if implemented in a coherent, structured, and coordinated manner.
Chapter 8 of the book discusses the RCT of ALfA in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, India, which led to results as shown on the right after just 40 days of implementation as cited in the book.
These encouraging results led to the program's expansion to 41% of Shamli's schools. Shamli rose from being a Low-Performing District of India to Rank 18 of 75 in Uttar Pradesh in the governments own FLN test.
ALfA: Comparison with Structured Pedagogy & TaRL
"One of the challenges facing many teachers is the extreme diversity of learning levels. Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) solves this problem by grouping students by ability, whereas ALfA transforms the mixed learning levels from a challenge to a strength through paired learning.
While ALfA is newer and still emerging compared to established programs such as TaRL and Structured Pedagogy, its ability to deliver swift learning gains positions it as a promising strategy for achieving universal literacy and numeracy."
- Aïcha Bah Diallo Former Minister of Education, Guinea
- Source: Copenhagen Consensus, 2023. Halftime to SDGs Best Investment Paper: Education.
- Source: Weighted average from implementations. $4 per child, effect size of 0.48 (HGSE and others).
Table: Comparison of popular, evidence-based FLN pedagogies
| Feature | Structured Pedagogy | TaRL | ALfA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Approach | Standardized lesson plans and scripted teaching. | Grouping students by ability level and targeting instruction accordingly. | A process-led structure that scaffolds learning through paired activities. |
| Holistic & Social Development | Focused primarily on academic content delivery rather than holistic development. | Differentiated grouping can unintentionally lead to a fixed mindset which can prejudice a child about their own ability. | Develops 21st-century skills such as collaboration, citizenship, equity & inclusion through random paired learning. |
| Speed & Efficacy | Effect Size: 0.13 (Generally 3-year implementations) | Effect Sizes: 0.08-0.7 (50 days, combination of studies 2005-2014) | Effect Sizes: 0.23-0.89 (India, Maldives: 45 days, 2022-23) |
| Cost | $8 per child Detailed scripting and material requirements. | $20-$27 per child Resources vary by implementation. More significant training required. | $4 per child Leverages local resources and requires minimal training time. |
Published by Bloomsbury, January 2024
“All students should be able to learn to read quickly to maximize their academic
potential and ALfA does that.”
Jon Corippo
Founder of EduProtocols, USA
"This book provides unique ideas about creating a pedagogy of possibility. It will help
create the conditions for a better world.”
Sigamoney Naicker
Professor, University of the Western Cape
“A much-needed manifesto for achieving large scale transformation of the global literacy
crisis.”
Ernesto Schiefelbein
Former Minister of Education, Chile
"A must read for policymakers and all those associated with the campaign against
illiteracy."
Anil Swarup
Former Secretary of Education, India
Global Council of Sages
- Rana Dajani President, We Love Reading, Jordan
- Ravi Sreedharan Founder & President, Indian School of Development Management, India
- Robert Thorn Director, Developing Real Learners, Turkey
- Inger-Mette Stenseth Founder, World Climate School, Norway
- Sigbjorn Dugal Founder, Pickatale, Norway
- Nicolas Gravel Professor of Economics, Aix-Marseille University, France
- Richard Nilsson President, Adventure of Humanity, Sweden/France
- David Bovill Partnerships Manager, DEIP, UK
- Girish Menon CEO, STIR Education, UK
- Ms Novak Katalin Former President, Hungary
- Aïcha Bah Diallo Former Education Minister, Guinea Founder, Forum of African Women Educationists
- Peter Kwasi Kodjie Secretary-General All Africa Student's Union, Ghana
- Samuel Sasu Adonteng Programme Officer, All Africa Students Union, Ghana
- Rebecca Doreen Founding Director, Vadiwa Trust Organization, Zimbabwe
- Sigamoney Naicker Professor, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
- Bill Graham Vice Chair, NGO Committee for Education, Learning & Literacy at the United Nations in New York, USA
- Cindy Charles Founder & CEO, Kupanda Sisters Inc., Guyana
- Fred Mednick Founder, Teacher Without Borders, USA
- Gail Davvis-Carter UN ECOSOC Representative, UN Partner, USA
- Joanne Telser-Frere Director, Program Development, Literacy Chicago USA
- Jon M Corippo Author, Eduprotocols, USA
- Mary McCool Berry Founder, Read Keys, USA
- Ernesto Schiefelbein Chilean Pedagogue, Professor, Economist & Politician, Chile
- Sylvia Guimarães Co-founder & President, Vaga Lume, Brazil
- Vicky Colbert Founder & Director, Fundación Escuela Nueva and Former Minister of Education, Colombia
Register your interest to collaborate
This conference is more than a dialogue; it is a global call to action for swift, replicable, impactful, equitable, inclusive, cost-effective and scalable solutions that empower learners and transform education systems.
Education leaders, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners are invited to join this transformative initiative. Together, we can create a global movement to accelerate foundational learning, achieve SDG 4, and fast-forward a quality education for all.
