This program, funded by the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), seeks to enhance learning outcomes and expand equitable access to education for over 70 million children in the region.
Despite significant progress in the past two decades, the region faces a learning crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, only 11% of children in the targeted countries can read and understand a simple text by age 10, and 14 million children are out of school. AIM4Learning aims to halve this number by 2034.
Program Implementation and Goals
The program will be implemented over a 10-year period, starting with Comoros and Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, the Ethiopia Education Transformation Operation for Learning (ETOL) will benefit nearly 20 million students, while in Comoros, the program will support approximately 136,469 students and nearly 4,000 teachers.
Victoria Kwakwa, Vice President for the World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region, emphasized the importance of foundational learning for the continent's rapidly growing child population, stating, "By investing in education, we invest not just in individual futures, but in the prosperity, stability, and dignity of the entire continent."
Innovative Approaches and Partnerships
AIM4Learning is built on four pillars: transforming learning spaces, developing an effective teacher workforce, strengthening education systems and financing, and encouraging cross-country collaboration. The program will leverage digital technology, improve teacher management, enhance curricula, and strengthen governance through decentralization.
In Comoros, the Strengthening Education for Better Education Outcomes (REACH) initiative aims to improve teaching quality and primary education completion rates. With an investment of over $23.32 million, the project focuses on curriculum reform, enhancing school environments, and building capacity for sustainable sector reform.
In Ethiopia, the ETOL initiative, with a $226 million investment, aims to transform teaching and learning by enhancing teacher training and developing inclusive education resources. The program targets severe learning poverty, with 90% of ten-year-olds unable to read, by improving educational infrastructure and teacher support.
Laura Frigenti, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education, highlighted the role of technology in accelerating learning, especially for vulnerable children, and stressed the importance of partnerships in transforming education systems.
For more information:
FACTSHEETS
Comoros: The Advancing Innovative Methods to Promote Learning (AIM4Learning) Program (English | French)
Ethiopia: The Advancing Innovative Methods to Promote Learning (AIM4Learning) Program (English)
or visit the World Bank's IDA and Global Partnership for Education websites.
