DeviSansthan

2nd global policymakers conclave

an online event | 23 january 2024

theme a

45 minutes

Massive Teacher Empowerment

theme b

45 minutes

Disruptive Solutions to a Global Literacy Emergency

presentations

30 minutes

Evidence from the Field of 10X FLN

theme c

45 minutes

Collaborations & Synergies Towards a Mass Movement

theme d

45 minutes

System-wide Reforms, Policies and Plans

Discruptive FLN
dr abdullah rashid ahmed
minister of state for education, maldives

Foundational literacy is the foundation for life, without FLN, further education is impossible.

Country Heads, Ministers of Education & Governments

Alfa Logo

concep note

the missing ingredient

A recent World Bank report found that some 70% of 10-year-olds in Low and Middle Income Countries are unable to read. Children are attending school, but not acquire essential skills. This puts their entire education in jeopardy.

We are living in a literacy emergency - we must act swiftly to ensure everyone learns the key skills of reading, writing and arithmetic.

The missing piece in global efforts to improve FLN is pedagogy. A paradigm shift is necessary in the way we approach teaching.

Innovative solutions like Accelerating Learning for All (ALfA) show that it is possible to teach children and adults to read in just 45 days and achieve full FLN capability in only 90 days. This is in stark contrast to the 3 to 5 years required by traditional methods, which still leave more than half of Grade 5 children lacking basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills.

These groundbreaking pedagogy and processes not only address learning, but also tackle issues such as climate change, peace, and global citizenship simultaneously

reading wars

Historically, there are two broad ways to learn reading: Whole Language and Phonics. The vast majority of the world still uses whole language even though research has shown phonics works better. There are many reading wars and strong proponents of different reading programs. Regardless, most methods typically take three to five years of schooling, and even after that, many children are not proficient in reading.

a third way-alfa

A new approach, Accelerating Learning for All, is now freely available in 30 languages. It utilizes a known-to-unknown teaching methodology. ALfA has proven that it's feasible to teach individuals to read within 45 days and attain full FLN proficiency within 90 days, with just one daily session (or even in just 45 days with two sessions per day).

a paradigm shift

The revolutionary ALfA goes beyond traditional education by not only improving reading, writing, and math skills, but also cultivates the 6C Skills essential for the 21st Century, and addresses global challenges such as climate change, peace, and global citizenship all at once. Children work in pairs, which develops their cooperation and communication skills, while creative hands-on activities boost their critical thinking.

moot massive open online training

march 2023

MOOT hosted in March 2023 saw participation from 53 countries around the world, including all six continents. Apart from India, some of the countries with most participants included Maldives & UAE (Asia), the United States & Peru (Americas), Namibia & Nigeria (Africa).

Format: The participants of MOOT are expected to attend just one session of literacy (3.5 hours) and one session of numeracy (3.5 hours) in any combination of dates and time-slots. They will get a certificate based on participation in a quiz at the end of each session. They will also get online resources in 30 International languages. The participants are expected to come away from MOOT motivated and empowered with new skills they can use right away to further boost FLN levels. There is no upper limit to the number of participants for MOOT.

Moot World Map

Countries with over 100 MOOT participants

Countries with 10-100 MOOT participants

Countries with 1-10 MOOT participants

ALfA: INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES

International Map

Arabic

Bangladeshi

Dhivehi*

Dutch

English

Filipino

French

Nepalese

Serbian

Shona

Twi

Urdu

Yoruba

Spanish

Swahili

Portuguese*

Persian*

Somalian*

India Map

Assamese

Bengali

Gujarati

Hindi

Kannada

Konkani*

Maithili

Marathi

Mizo

Odia

Punjabi

Tamil

Telugu

* in process

ALfA Implementation Partners

HARVARD ON ALfA FLN

Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA

Policy Pathways for Improving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in Uttar Pradesh, India

in “Rebuilding Resilient Education Systems After the COVID-19 Pandemic”, March 2023, Amazon

Chapter 8 of the book by Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE), Cambridge, USA, published in March 2023 documents the ALfA program in Shamli, and recommends its widespread adoption in UP.

Chapters 8 also documents results from the ALfA program from a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) conducted in the Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. The RCT demonstrates a significant effect size of 0.23 for Grade 3 and 0.89 for Grade 5.

Chapter 10 of the same book is about the introduction of ALfA program at the nationwide level in the Republic of Maldives.

On this and next page are some extracts from the chapter on FLN in UP by HGSE.

Rebuilding cover
Book By Prof. Fernando Reimers et al, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Discruptive cover

DISRUPTIVE LITERACY

A Roadmap for Urgent Global Action

Disruptive Literacy is an easy-to-read but hard-to-ignore manifesto that will touch your heart and inspire you to action.

“A much-needed manifesto for achieving large scale transformation of the global literacy crisis.”

Ernesto Schiefelbein, Former Minister of Education, Chile

ALfA: INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES

The Global Policymakers Conclave focused on how to accelerate learning for all using disruptive methods. Top policymakers, ambassadors, heads of international and national NGO's, corporations and change-makers from across the globe joined the Policymakers Conclave to network and discuss these key issues.

The online event was held on 11 March 2023, immediately after a Massive Open Online Training (MOOT) on 9 & 10 March 2023. The twin events witnessed participation from 50 countries and 29 states of India. The Chief Guest of the Conclave was Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble Minister of Defence, India. Special guests of the Conclave included:

  • Dr. Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed, Hon'ble Minister of State for Education, Republic of Maldives
  • Mr. Abdul Salam Al-Joufi, Advisor at Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States and former Minister of Education, Yemen
  • Mr. Robert Jenkins, Global Director of Education, UNICEF.

Past Panelists

chief guest

Shri Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister of India

Rajnath Singh is an Indian politician and lecturer who is serving as the 29th Defence Minister of India since 2019. He is currently the Deputy Leader of the House, Lok Sabha since 2019.

chief guest

dr. abdulla rasheed ahmed

Minister of State for Education, Maldives

Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed is the Minister of State for Education, Republic of Maldives. Mr. Rasheed is a distinguished educationalist with 30 years of experience in the field of education. Dr. Rasheed served as a principal of government school for 18 years.

Convenor

Dr Sunita Gandhi

Founder, DEVI Sansthan

Dr Sunita Gandhi is a notable humanist and educationist who develops new pedagogies and processes to bring about a progressive change in education. Her Accelerating Learning for All program enables children to learn to read in as little as 45 days.

Special Guest

Abdul Salam al Joufi

Advisor

Mr Al Jouffi is an Advisor at Arab Bureau of education for the Gulf state and Former Minister of Education Yemen

Special Guest

Robert Jenkins

Global Director, Education & Adolescent Development

Robert Jenkins, Director of Education and Adolescent Development, Programme Group, joined UNICEF in 1995. He brings over 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian programming in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

chief guest

IAS Rashmi Arun Shami

Principal Secretary School Education

Shrimati Rashmi Shami, IAS, has held numerous key posts in the Madhya Pradesh government, including the Director of Tribal Area Development and Planning and Commissioner of Rajya Shiksha Kendra.

Guest of Honor

H.E. Mohamed Maliki

Ambassador to King of Morocco

Mr Mohamed Maliki Ambassador of His Majesty, Mohammed VI, King of Morocco to the Republic of India, the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the Kingdom of Bhutan, the Republic of Maldives and Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Guest of Honor

Shri Jagdish Gandhi

Founder-Manager City Montessori School

Dr. Jagdish Gandhi is an Indian politician and Educationist, who founded the City Montessori School with his wife Bharti Gandhi. He had served as a member of the UP Legislative Assembly from 1969 to 1974 independently.

Guest of Honor

K.P Fabian Per Joanne

Ambassador

Mr K. P. Fabian served in the Indian Foreign Service from 1964 to 2000 when he retired as India’s Ambassador to Italy and as Permanent Representative to UN in Rome. His published works include: Common Sense on War on Iraq. He is currently Professor at Symbiosis, and Indian Society of International Law.

Guest of Honor

Dr. Manjula Sharma

State Quality & women Development Incharge Samagra Shiksha

Dr. Manjula Devi is holding the joint portfolio of Pedagogy and State Women Development in Samagra Shiksha in Shimla for Himachal Pradesh Government - the body governing elementary and secondary education as well as teacher-development in the state.

Guest of Honor

Dr Anjana Goel

Director, SCERT

Dr Anjana Goel is the Director, State Council of Educational , Research & Training, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Guest of Honor

Dinakar Nallamala

State Project Director

Mr Dinakar Nallama is State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Puducherry

Speaker

Martha Muhwezi

Executive Director, FAWE

Ms Martha Muhwezi is the Executive Director at Forum For African Women Educationists (FAWE).

Speaker

Dr. Modupe Adefeso Olateju

Managing Director, TEP

Dr Adefeso-Olateju is the MD of The Education Partnership (TEP) Centre, NigeriaEducation Policy Expert, Global South.

Speaker

Samuel Sasu Adonteng

Lead Programmes Officer, AASU

Mr Samuel Adonteng is the All Africa Student Union’s primary contact with the UNESCO COVID-19 GEC and ECW Youth Subgroup. He is a consultant on quality assurance and innovation initiatives.

Guest of Honor

Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon

MD & CEO City Montessori School

Geeta Gandhi Kingdon is the Managing Director & CEO of City Montessori School Society, while also being Professor at the Institute of Education, University College London (UCL), where she holds the Chair of ‘Education Economics and International Development’.

Speaker

Dr. Bernardo Javalquinto

Former Candidate to the Presidency of Chile

Dr Bernardo Javalquinto is a Chile-based economist and academic. Bernardo Jfollows a social approach to Economy and is the founder of Escuela De Negocios Sociales (ESN) an academic institute focusing on social business - which he founded with the help of Yunus Center and the CFT of Maule.

Speaker

Sigamoney Naicker

Chief Director Inclusive Education, South Africa

Mr Sigamoney Naicker, PhD (University of Western Cape) is extra-ordinary Professor at the University of Western Cape in Cape Town and also Chairing the Ministerial committee on inclusive education in South Africa.

Presenter

Fred Mednick

Founder, Teacher Without Borders, USA

Dr. Fred Mednick began his career as a teacher and school principal. In 2000, he founded Teachers Without Borders (TWB) to connect teacher leaders to information and each other to close the education divide.

Presenter

Joanne Telser

Director of Program Development, Literacy Chicago

Ms Joanne Tesler has lived and worked in France, Pakistan, Egypt, and Qatar. Joanne is fluent in French and can get by in Arabic. She has worked in many fields including education, radio, tv and even brain training.

Presenter

Mary McCool Berry

Founder and Practitioner, Read Keys, USA

Ms Mary McCool Berry is a grants writer; she wrote several grants, which resulted in awards totaling thousands of dollars. The grant monies provided materials for children during her teaching career.

Speaker

Michael Matos

Director for ScaleLIT

Mr Michael Matos is currently the Education Technology Director for ScaleLIT (formerly Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition) managing the Illinois Digital Literacy Lab, The Chicago Connected digital literacy team, and more.

Presenter

Rana Dajani

President, We Love Reading

Rana Dajani is a Ph.D. molecular cell biology from University of Iowa, currently Cmalakova Fellow at the Jepson school of Leadership at the University of Richmond, Harvard Radcliff fellow, a Fulbrighter, Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Jordan to the United States, 2000.

Presenter

Gail Davvis Carter

Innovator, New York, USA

Gail Davvis-Carter is an UN ECOSOC Representative, UN Partner and Social Entrepreneur. In the past, Gail has owned companies in Europe and US simultaneously.

Presenter

Bill Graham

Chief Mentor

Bill Graham is the Chief Mentor and Adviser at Rotary Youth for a Better World, New York City Metropolitan Area

Presenter

Inger Mette Stenseth

Co-Founder of World Climate School, Norway

Inger-Mette Stenseth is co founder of World Climate School, desentralised network and part of the Climate Education Coalition

Speaker

Yogesh Kumar

Operation Head, Programs, HCL Foundation

Mr Yogesh Kumar is a Senior Operations Manager for HCL Foundation. He is a Post Graduate from IIFM, Bhopal; and has worked with various multilateral organizations like UNICEF, as well as several state governments.

Special Guest & Speaker

Chukwuka Enujekor

Founder, Think EdTech

Chukwuka Enujekor is an author, research scholar and the founder of Think EdTech and the Think Big Initiative. He is passionate about redefining education and technology in Africa.

Videos of Appeal to the Policymakers

Recommendations from panelists

Ten Key Take-aways

01

Illiteracy is a bad as slavery. Around the world, there are 771 million humans who are illiterate. If we proceed with business as usual without changing direction, we will not reach the Sustainable Development Goal of universal literacy by 2030.

02

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) is crucial because students need a tool to learn. If a student is struggling with either literacy or numeracy, they cannot learn well further. We must first learn to read before we can read to learn.

03

We need greater introspection about education, asking questions like ‘what it is we have been able to accomplish?’, ‘What has worked well?’ and ‘What has not worked so well?’ Consultation with all the stakeholders is crucial.

04

In Nigeria, at Grade 9 level only 55% of children are able to read the text which they should have been able to read when they were eight years old. It is highly unjust that many children can't even read by their 10th birthday.

05

The ALfA method introduced by Dr. Sunita Gandhi, is a powerful process to Globalize Literacy. We urge governments and corporate bodies worldwide to lend support necessary for taking this project further.

06

Data-led, evidence-based decision making approaches are key, whereby it is sought to understand what competencies children are lacking in particularly and to enable the system to address those gaps as a priority

07

Active Learning is a particular specialty of the ALfA method: instead of students being passive recipients, as in the conventional approach, students construct their own learning.

08

Children have a wonderful visualization power and ALfA is one of those innovative programs which uses the power of picture recognition and a concrete-to-abstract approach to make learning real and tangible.

09

It is not a matter of going into school but it is what you get out of school and how you put that to use in your daily life. Education should be borderless, we really appreciate this conclave for discussing the glitches in the Education System.

10

Teachers are the hinge point, without whom nothing ever moves. The role of teacher has changed drastically in an ALfA classroom, making them a galvaniser rather than an instructor