Africa is facing a deep learning crisis, with an estimated 90% of school-going children unable to read or write. Experts warn that the situation is most severe in conflict-affected areas, where children lack both stability and learning support. According to Benjamin Piper, Director of Global Education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this crisis reflects education systems that have expanded access to schooling but have not sufficiently focused on whether children are actually learning.
Piper describes the crisis as “heartbreaking,” noting that many African countries have invested heavily in classrooms and teachers but often neglected core instruction. He argues that weak goal-setting, limited resources, and misplaced priorities have slowed progress. However, he insists that the crisis is entirely solvable with the right approach.
According to Piper, the solution begins with a strong foundation. Foundational learning basic reading, writing, and numeracy in the first years of primary school is the “basement of the house” on which upper grades depend. Without these essential skills, students struggle later in STEM subjects, technical training, and the job market. He emphasized that foundational skills must be taught early. “If children haven’t learned the basics by age six or seven, it’s already late,” he said. He gave an example from Botswana, where fifth-graders were still counting circles to solve simple multiplication, showing the long-term impact of poor early instruction.
Despite the challenges, Piper is optimistic. He highlighted several successful programs across Africa and beyond that demonstrate how effective interventions can improve learning—sometimes at a cost as low as six dollars per child per year. Examples include Zambia’s Catch Up program, Kenya’s Tusome initiative, structured pedagogy programs in South Africa, innovative literacy interventions in Senegal, and large-scale learning reforms in India and Morocco. These programs share common elements: structured lesson plans, teacher training, coaching, and access to quality teaching materials.
Piper stressed that the biggest challenge now is financing and protecting education budgets. More than 90% of education spending in African countries goes toward salaries, leaving limited room for instructional resources. He advocates for stronger commitments from governments to fund textbooks, teacher guides, and training—all core components of foundational learning. Development partners, including the Gates Foundation, can support these efforts, but Piper reiterated that “the primary burden remains on governments.”
With the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaching, African governments are now more aware of their learning outcomes. Piper noted that the next step is to design government-led, evidence-based interventions to address gaps. “Having a goal is just the beginning,” he said. “Real progress comes from implementing solutions that actually work.”
The Gates Foundation has made foundational learning its top education priority, with a new strategy focused on supporting African and Indian governments committed to improving outcomes. The foundation is promoting South-South collaboration to help African countries learn from each other. Its initiatives include supporting the FLAT program, which backs African-led reforms, launching a numeracy research and development program in seven countries, investing in AI tools to assist teachers with planning and assessment, and developing local AI datasets that reflect African languages and classroom realities.
Piper emphasized that meaningful improvement begins in the classroom. Programs that equip teachers with structured materials, coaching, and simple, evidence-based methods have shown the greatest benefits. He pointed to Senegal’s ARED program, winner of the Yidan Prize, as evidence of how teacher-centered approaches can strengthen literacy and produce significant gains.
As donor support declines, Piper urged African governments to take ownership of their education futures. Many ministers, he said, are already protecting learning budgets and driving reforms. For him, the message is clear: Africa’s learning crisis is not permanent. With early investment, strong political will, and practical classroom support, the continent can build a stronger educational foundation and ensure that every child has the chance to succeed.