Transforming Maths Learning with EdTech
Modeling-for-scale: From pilot to influencing policy
Highlights
In response to the global learning crisis, UNICEF and national ministries rolled out an AI-powered mathematics platform across Bhutan, Lao PDR, and Uzbekistan. The 10–12-week small-scale implementations, conducted in Grades 3 and 5, demonstrated measurable improvements.
This report consolidates key lessons from the modeling-for-scale approach of introducing an EdTech tool to improve student numeracy skills and teacher digital skills in Bhutan, Lao PDR, and Uzbekistan. It is hoped that this report will provide valuable lessons as more countries seek to harness EdTech to address foundational learning challenges. Successful implementation depends not only on the effectiveness of the platform but also on enabling conditions such as digital infrastructure, teacher training, contextualization of the tool and alignment with the national curriculum.
Bhutan
A 10-week pilot in Bhutan using the AI-powered Eduten learning platform has delivered impressive results. Grade 5 students in the pilot outperformed their control group peers by 11.2 percentage points in numeracy skills and 4.6 percentage points in arithmetic fluency. The pilot engaged 952 students with Eduten, a digital tool for exercises, assessments, and learning analytics that puts teachers at the centre of learning. Using the platform, teachers coordinated pedagogical and gamified, curriculum-aligned activities tailored to their students’ needs.
Download the report here: Link.
Lao PDR
A 12-week pilot in Lao PDR using the AI-driven Eduten learning platform delivered promising results for Grade 3 students. Students who engaged with Eduten demonstrated higher performance in arithmetic and mathematics assessments compared to their peers in the control group. The treatment group, which received weekly remedial maths lessons using Eduten, improved by 35.7 percentage points in maths proficiency and 51.4 percentage points in arithmetic fluency compared to their peers, who followed the regular curriculum. The pilot engaged 384 students across 10 schools and one teacher training college, with 779 curriculum-aligned and locally adapted exercises.
Download the report here: Link.
Uzbekistan
A 12-week pilot in Uzbekistan using the AI-powered Eduten learning platform delivered encouraging results. Students who engaged with Eduten demonstrated higher performance in arithmetic and mathematics assessments compared to their peers in the control group. Grade 5 students in the treatment group demonstrated significantly higher improvement, with a 16.9 per cent increase in maths skills and 10.2 per cent improvement in arithmetic fluency. The pilot engaged 1,046 Grade 5 students across 17 public schools in Tashkent—527 of whom used Eduten during one weekly maths lesson, while 519 received regular instruction as a comparison group.
Download the report here: Link.
Modeling-for-scale: From Pilot to Policy
To design implementations that can effectively inform national scale-up decisions, it is crucial to account for the broader learning ecosystem into which a digital solution is introduced, and to design for scalability and sustainability from the very beginning. This requires careful consideration of systemic enablers such as school connectivity, device access, digital competencies of teachers and students, adaptability and pedagogical quality of the solution, capacity for data use and evidence generation, and the total cost of ownership, including long-term financial sustainability. Equally important is support for educators. Teacher buy-in and digital confidence are essential to realising the full potential of EdTech tools.
The report demonstrates that well-designed digital tools can enhance the teaching and learning process. As more countries integrate EdTech into their education systems, this report provides a reference point for how to combine digital innovation with system readiness and plan for scaling and sustainability.
Building on these results, all three countries are expanding the rollout to more schools and grades—showcasing how a carefully designed pilot can inform national scale-up.
