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Foundational Literacy & Numeracy

We believe that foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) needs to be the basic starting point of a child’s education upon which all other learning is built. 

Even before COVID, 617 million children worldwide were not reaching basic levels in reading and math, despite most being in school.

In low income countries, 9 in 10 children cannot read with understanding by age ten.

The pandemic has made this crisis worse, especially for young women.

To support EdTech for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, we:

Are a Powerful Convening Platform

The mEducation Alliance membership includes most of the major leading donor and development agency investors for EdTech in low-resource contexts. Many of whom are directly investing in FLN activities.

Are Catalyzing New Networks

Our Math Power! and Literacy League networks and initiatives are designed to strengthen the FLN ecosystem.

We strengthen the FLN ecosystem by:

  • Matchmaking – local FLN literacy and numeracy-centric organizations and initiatives with each other and EdTech experts and app developers;
  • Advancing – innovative FLN tech and non-tech game-based models and approaches;
  • Accelerating – the use of innovative messaging platforms, including social behavior change campaigns (SBCC), to highlight promising FLN initiatives/interventions. We also feature video-based interviews and other materials on Pulse, our EdTech media channel;
  • Strengthening – the use of sustainable ICTs to support government and local FLN organizations; and,
  • Personalizing Learning – by engaging youth as peer educators and digital ambassadors, including through our Youth Digital Champions initiative, to support FLN community level interventions.

Are Supporting Non-Profit Organizations Through The Math Power! Prize

The Math Power! Prize celebrates the importance of numeracy and honors outstanding organizations promoting the joy of math in their communities and worldwide. Launched in 2022, it’s the first prize of its kind.

Learn more about the Prize and how to become a co-sponsor here.

Are Featuring Presentations on FLN at Our Annual Symposia

Each year, our Symposium includes tracks and presentations focused on FLN. Scroll below to see some of the FLN focussed presentations featured at our 2025 Symposia.

Help Spread the Love of Literacy & Numeracy Worldwide by Supporting our Activities!

Sponsor Us

A few of the FLN Presentations Featured at our 2025 Symposia 

Featured at the Marvelous Education Alliance Symposium

Central Square Foundation

LiftEd EdTech Accelerator

Abhimanyu Maheshwari, Senior Project Lead – EdTech

Imagine Worldwide & onebillion

Research-Based Continuous Improvement of Learning Software in Personalized EdTech

Sarah Bardack, Research Director(Imagine Worldwide), and Sam Weekes, Content Author (onebillion)

EEDI Labs

AI-Augmented Tutoring for Equitable Mathematics Learning: Scaling Human Expertise with Generative AI

Anjali Nambiar, Research Coordinator    Bibi Groot, Chief Impact Officer

Explore all FLN presentations by visiting the final Symposium Agenda, now featuring links to every presentation.

Featured at STEMtastic Adventures! with Young Pacific Leaders

SolarSpell Arizona State University

SolarSPELL digital libraries: Taking an offline-first approach to keep students safe, focused, and STEMmed up!

Laura Hosman, Professor and Co-Founder and Co-Director

Teacher In A Box

Giving the gift of learning - Teacher In A Box

Kate Huth, Researcher

University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant

Marine Science & Ocean Literacy Resources for the Pacific: Videos, Activities, & Internships

Kanesa Duncan Seraphin, Director,      Anne Rosa, Marine Education Specialist

All FLN presentations from the Symposium are available in the final Symposium Agenda, which now includes hyperlinks to the full sessions.

Featured at STEMtastic Adventures! Africa

Edutab Africa

STEM Adventures in storytelling: How the African Children’s Stories Podcast Brings Math and Science to life

Magdalene Chorongo, African Children’s Stories Podcast Host

Saide – African Storybook

Fostering Local Agency and Inclusiveness through Children's Storybook Development

Dorcas Wepukhulu, Programme Specialist: Early Childhood Education

Ubongo Learning

Driving Inclusive Education and Foundational Learning through STEMtastic Adventures

Anett Ngongi, User Research Manager  Anna Andrew, Educational Researcher

All FLN presentations from the Symposium are available in the final Symposium Agenda, which now includes hyperlinks to the full sessions. 

Jax Chaudhry

Jax Chaudhry leads Project Invent, a national nonprofit that empowers youth with future ready mindsets for individual success and global impact, through invention. Originally from the Southside of Chicago, Jax loves working with students, families and partners to ensure every student can attain success as they define it. For more than 10 years, she has worked with elementary schools, high schools, education nonprofits and led regional teams and operations to ensure student success.

Michael Leventhal

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning scienceMichael Leventhal is co-founder of RobotsMali, a pedagogical and AI4D laboratory and STEM education center in Bamako, Mali. RobotsMali has trained thousands of students from elementary school to high school in computer science, robotics, and artificial intelligence, coached national robotics teams that have won 32 medals in international competitions, and developed technologies using AI and robotics for the social and economic development of Mali. Before becoming an educator in Mali, Michael worked as a technologist in Silicon Valley.s, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.

Enouce Ndeche

Enouce Ndeche is the founder and Director of Vijana Amani Pamoja ,VAP a community scheme based in Nairobi Kenya that uses the power and the popularity of the game of soccer/football as a catalyst for social, educational and economic empowerment.Enouce holds a degree in sociology from Egerton university and he is also the 2020 individual award recipient “Diversity and Inclusion Eminent Leader Award Enouce is also a certified Sports Philanthropy and Executive, George Washington University and is a 2023 Gratitude Network fellow.

Kenneth Y T Lim

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning sciences, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.