Shaping the Future of Learning
Learning Pioneers Programme harness edtech to transform education into an exciting adventure for children worldwide
Around the globe, a silent crisis unfolds, jeopardizing the futures of millions of children. Despite the universal right to education, too many children and young people lack access to adequate learning opportunities. Globally, 70 per cent of 10-year-olds in low and middle-income countries are unable to read a simple statement. The repercussions of this learning crisis are profound, extending far beyond classroom walls to shape the trajectory of entire communities and societies. Yet, amidst these challenges lies a beacon of hope: the transformative power of educational technology (edtech).
Map, Match, and Make it Happen! These three key phrases constitute the cornerstone of UNICEF’s ambitious Learning Pioneers Programme, which seeks to chart new paths in children's education, and reshape learning landscapes, by ensuring equitable access to digital learning.
The Learning Pioneers Programme is a two-year journey where six countries partner with UNICEF’s Learning Innovation Hub to pilot and accelerate digital learning tools to address the learning crisis. Egypt, Ghana, Malaysia, Rwanda, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe – will be at the forefront of mapping and testing edtech tools with the potential to be scaled into multiple countries and reach millions.
“We are partnering with national governments and leading edtech innovators to introduce innovative learning experiences to equip children with the skills and knowledge critical to thriving in a rapidly evolving world," says Leotes Lugo Helin, Education Manager and ad interim Lead, Learning Innovation Hub, UNICEF Office of Innovation.
The Programme covers three critical phases:
Map: This stage involved identifying countries to shape the future of learning and concluded with the rigorous selection of six countries.
Match: This stage requires understanding country contexts and the potential for leveraging digital learning. This phase, currently in progress, gives clear insights into the challenges and a landscape analysis of “Possible Learning Futures” for each country.
Make It Happen: The last phase, scheduled to start later this year, will involve testing hypotheses, iterating, accelerating and scaling selected, highly scalable edtech tools deliver high-impact student learning outcomes.
Before proceeding to the third phase, Ministry of Education officials and UNICEF staff from the six countries will take part in a one-week immersive Innovation Camp in Helsinki, at the Helsinki-based Learning Innovation Hub.
“The Learning Pioneers Programme is helping to integrate technology into the curriculum, aimed at enabling school children in Ghana to use edtech tools for learning," says Prince Charles Agyemang-Duah, Director of Schools and Institutions at the Ghana Education Service, who engaged with the UNICEF team during their visit to Ghana in March 2024.
The innovations camps aims to establish an ecosystem fostered by knowledge sharing leveraging insights and expertise from a diversity of country contexts. Participants will explore approaches to integrating edtech tools, digital pedagogies, design thinking, lean start up approaches and frontier tech literacy effectively implement and scale EdTech tools in their respective countries.
The Learning Pioneers Programme is designed to serve as a force multiplier, empowering the first cohort of participating countries to become learning innovation ambassadors. It embodies the startup ‘way of thinking’, inviting participants to embrace a ‘fail fast, learn quickly’ mindset by deploying a data-driven, decision-making, collaborative approach to solving uncertainties and addressing challenges.
"This transformative approach seeks to redefine the very essence of learning and equip children and young people with the tools they will need to shape their own destinies and have an indelible impact on the world."
Leotes Lugo Helin, Education Manager and ad interim Lead, Learning Innovation Hub, UNICEF Office of Innovation.
About the Learning Innovation Hub
The Learning Innovation Hub, a global hub based in Helsinki and supported by the Government of Finland consists of a startup team bringing to life a new business unit within the UNICEF Office of Innovation. Our goal is to accelerate equitable access to world-class digital learning solutions and build a community of changemakers eager to transform education around the world and make it a wonderful adventure for every child.
