Improving foundational learning at scale: Evidence from Ghana’s Differentiated Learning + Programme

About

Ghana has made strong progress in expanding access to education, with enrolment exceeding 90 per cent and improving completion rates. However, gains in access have not yet translated into improved foundational learning outcomes. In response, the Government of Ghana introduced Differentiated Learning (DL) in 2018, which has since evolved into Differentiated Learning Plus (DL+). DL+ combines targeted instruction with structured lesson guides, play-based learning approaches, and real-time tracking of learner progression through a digital dashboard. This case study focuses on the implementation and results of DL+, drawing on an independent evaluation of 320 primary schools (160 DL+ and 160 comparison schools), selected as part of a randomized design and tracked over three years.