IID shared key insights from the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE-KIX)-supported research initiative titled ‘Common-scale assessment of early and foundational learning across the Global South’, currently implemented under the name ‘Early Language & Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PAL-ELANA)’ during the KIX Bangladesh National Uptake Forum 2024. As a member of the PAL Network and an implementing partner of ELANA in Bangladesh, Kazi Ferdous Pavel, Head of Education Unit at IID, presented these findings as part of the thematic panel session on Teaching and Learning.
The presentation highlighted how the ELANA initiative aims to address high rates of learning poverty and the educational disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic through the development of a digitally adaptive assessment tool for early literacy and numeracy. Key components include digital tools for assessment, citizen-led initiatives for local engagement, and capacity-building for educators and community members. The final data collection for ELANA is set to take place in three districts in each participating country, covering 3600 households across 180 villages, or EAs, per country. Mr. Pavel detailed various milestones, including large-scale trials and data collection, emphasizing the initiative’s progress.
The findings and insights from ELANA will inform policy decisions and targeted interventions to improve learning outcomes. Future directions involve scaling up assessments and integrating the tools into local education systems for sustainable impact. The session was chaired by Dr. Siddiqur Rahman, former Professor at the University of Dhaka, and Mr. Motiar Rahman, GPE focal point and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME).
Other notable presentations at the forum included a KIX EMAP case study on Teacher Professional Development at Scale, a research project by Concordia University on using technology to improve literacy in the Global South, and a study by the South Asian Institute for Social Transformation (SAIST) on the effectiveness and scalability of programs for children who are out of school and at risk of dropping out in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.
The KIX Bangladesh National Uptake Forum 2024 brought together key stakeholders in the education sector, including representatives from GPE, the KIX EMAP Hub, IDRC, academicians, education practitioners, CSO representatives, and researchers from various regions. The forum, held at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka, on June 10–11, 2024, provided a platform for sharing research findings, best practices, and innovative solutions to advance education in Bangladesh.
