Spotlight Robust Global Research
Surface rigorously evaluated FLN evidence — RCTs, effect sizes and cost-effectiveness data — from every region, so decisions rest on proof rather than preference.
GlobalLearning Lab 2027
Policy is in Place. Now Pedagogy.
A three-day global summit bringing policymakers, researchers, NGOs, the wider community, and funding partners together to exponentially advance foundational learning while making education more inclusive, holistic, and centered on the whole child.
8–10 February 2027Lucknow, India
Countdown to the Lab
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An initiative of
Dignity Education Vision International
Hosted by
City Montessori School, Lucknow — the world's largest school by enrolment
Education ecosystem
Global Education & Training Institute — associated education partner
Start here
Which brings you here?
Choose your role and we'll point you to the themes, case study and next step that actually match your work.
Concept note
More children are in school than ever. Far fewer are learning to read.
The Global Learning Lab 2027 brings ministers, policymakers, NGOs, researchers and funders together for three days in Lucknow to scale what demonstrably works in foundational literacy and numeracy — anchored by Rapid Results Initiatives that deliver measurable classroom change before the summit even begins.
Actionable Strategies
Move past diagnosis. Every session ends with something a ministry, district or NGO can put into a classroom within one term.
Global Collaborations
Build working partnerships between ministries, universities, funders and implementers that outlast the three days.
Scalable Frameworks
Codify what makes an FLN programme scale affordably — materials, teacher roles, assessment and governance.
Three days
Programme at a glance
Each day moves from evidence to practice to commitments. The full session list and the agenda builder live on the programme page.
Day 1
Monday 8 February
Evidence & Ambition
- Opening ceremony and welcome to Lucknow
- Keynote: Policy is in place. Now pedagogy.
- Film: Global FLN success stories and critical areas for action
Day 2
Tuesday 9 February
Pedagogy in Practice
- Targeted strategies for literacy, numeracy and teacher training
- Workshop: data-driven success — real-time monitoring and assessment tools
- Roundtable: FLN in diverse contexts — urban, rural, marginalised, local languages
Day 3
Wednesday 10 February
Scale & Commitments
- FLN Expo opens
- From evidence to system adoption: commitments session
- Closing plenary: the Lucknow commitments and next steps
Open the complete agenda to see session details, speakers, and save your own programme.
See the full programmeProgramme
Conference themes
Five threads run across the three days. Select one to see the sub-topics it covers.
Charting a Future Roadmap for Education
School-Based Rapid Results Initiatives
Community-Driven Rapid Results Innovations
Government-Led Rapid Results Initiatives
Best Practices Grounded in Research and Evidence
Embedding 21st Century Skills, Climate Education and Social-Emotional Learning
Leveraging Education Technology and AI
Gamification and Interactive Learning
Culturally Responsive Pedagogies
Context
Why here, why now, why these hosts
Why Lucknow?
The capital of Uttar Pradesh — a state of 240 million people running one of the world's largest FLN accelerations. Delegates can step out of a plenary and into a live government classroom the same week. Lucknow is also a city of famed hospitality, culture and cuisine.
Why Dignity Education?
Dignity Education has spent two decades building and testing the ALfA pedagogy from 20 pilot schools to over 30,000 government schools across 12 countries, at roughly $4 per child, with independent validation from Harvard GSE.
Why City Montessori School?
CMS is the world's largest school by enrolment (Guinness World Record) and has hosted the Conferences of Chief Justices of the World for decades. It offers the campus, the logistics and the convening credibility a summit of this scale requires.
Before the summit
Pre-conference Rapid Results Initiatives
Ministries of Education, NGOs and partner organisations working with governments at local, regional or national level are eligible to run an RRI and present results at the Lab.
In the field
RRIs run in real government and community classrooms — like this ALfA literacy class in a partner programme — with results measured against a baseline and presented at the Lab.
Engage
A ministry, NGO or partner selects a cluster of schools and commits to a short, measured implementation with a named owner.
Expand
Teachers are trained in 2–3 days, materials are printed locally, and paired learning starts within the same term.
Embed
Results are measured against a baseline, published, and used to argue for district- or state-level adoption.
Where ALfA is running — select a pin
Select a pin to see results, the toolkit languages used there, and any Council of Sages members from that region.
The pedagogy
Accelerating Learning for All (ALfA)
A paired-learning method that takes children from concrete experience to abstract symbol — designed for large classes, low budgets and ordinary teachers.
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Government schools using ALfA
from 20 pilot schools
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Countries implementing ALfA
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Average effect size
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Cost per child
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Toolkit languages
How it works
Key features of the ALfA pedagogy
Children begin with objects, gestures and lived meaning before symbols. Decoding and comprehension are built together rather than sequenced years apart.
- Meaning-first decoding
- Objects and gestures before symbols
- Numeracy through quantity, not rote
Independent validation
Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2023
Prof. Fernando Reimers and colleagues published randomised trial results for ALfA in Rebuilding Education Systems After the Covid-19 Pandemic. After 40 days in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, effect sizes were 0.23 SD in Grade 3 and 0.89 SD in Grade 5. Shamli rose to rank 18 of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh's FLN test, and the method expanded to 41% of the district's schools.
View the bookEvidence
ALfA compared with structured pedagogy and TaRL
Published cost and effect-size ranges, side by side — then an estimator you can take into a budget conversation.
| ALfA | Structured Pedagogy | TaRL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core approach | Paired learning, concrete to abstract, meaning first | Scripted lessons, prescribed materials, coaching | Grouping by level, targeted remedial instruction |
| Holistic & social development | Built in — collaboration, communication, agency | Limited — focused on literacy outcomes | Limited — focused on catch-up basics |
| Speed & efficacy | Reading with meaning in weeks (40–60 days typical) | One to three school years | One to two school years, campaign-based |
| Cost per child | $4 | $8 | $20 – 27 |
| Effect size range | 0.23 – 0.89 SD | 0.10 – 0.35 SD | 0.15 – 0.70 SD |
Cost per child (USD)
Sources: Copenhagen Consensus (2023) and Harvard GSE (2023).
Estimate your programme
Enter the number of children you plan to reach.
- ALfA$40,000
Projected effect size 0.23 – 0.89 SD · $4 per child
- Structured Pedagogy$80,000
Projected effect size 0.10 – 0.35 SD · $8 per child
- TaRL$230,000
Projected effect size 0.15 – 0.70 SD · $20 – 27 per child
Illustrative estimate based on published per-child costs and effect-size ranges — not a quotation or a guarantee of results. Copenhagen Consensus · Harvard GSE
“We have written the policies. What our children are waiting for is a method that works in a classroom of sixty, with the teacher we already have.”
From the classroom
What teachers and programme leads report
“I started with 22 children, many of whom had some challenges with reading and mathematics. 19 children can now read fluently, and the rest are in process. I feel delighted with everything I have been observing in my children.”
“In 4th grade, we had so many kids who couldn't write or read. My own daughter's reading ability is now getting better each day, her scores improved significantly. Our school is excited, and our growth is accelerating. Everybody is praising the curriculum.”
“This is a very easy technique. I think this technique should be used everywhere throughout India.”
“This is an excellent method. When children use concrete objects, the learning sticks in their brain.”
- IndiaALfA classrooms
- USAALfA classrooms
- KenyaALfA classrooms
- MalaysiaALfA classrooms
- PeruALfA classrooms
- MaldivesALfA classrooms
What partners receive
The comprehensive FLN Booster Package
Everything a district needs to start — printable, translatable and costed for public systems.
Thin Booklets
Low cost, low carbon, low psychological burden.
Free EdTech Tools & App
Supplements learning on devices at home and school.
Learning Materials
Locally available, sustainable, reusable.
Teacher Training
Highly participatory, online or offline.
Teacher Handbook
Simple visual instructions and a video repository.
Assessments
A scanning app enables instant analysis and reports.
Collaboration
Research & implementation partners
Ministries, foundations and networks working with us on Rapid Results Initiatives and evidence.
Coalition partner- SBI Foundation
- All Africa Students Union
- Teachers Without Borders
- Forum for African Women Educationalists
- PATH Youth, Kenya
- World Climate School, Norway
- Quizizz International
- Dubai Cares
- ALIGN-FLN
Policy is in place. Bring your pedagogy to Lucknow.
8–10 February 2027 · Lucknow, India. Delegate places are reviewed and confirmed by the organising team.
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