Foundational Learning Action Tracker 2025 Launches: New Data Shows Where Countries Are Advancing — and Where Gaps Remain

Today, the Hempel Foundation and UNICEF are proud to launch the 2025 Foundational Learning Action Tracker (FLAT) — a data resource designed to help governments turn commitments into real progress in classrooms.

This year, the report is being launched in Accra together with Ghana’s Ministry of Education, underscoring the growing focus across Africa on strengthening the foundations for children’s learning.

A clearer picture of where action is working

FLAT 2025 draws on three years of national data to monitor how low- and middle-income countries are working to ensure children learn to read, write, and do basic math — the skills that unlock all further learning.
The Tracker assesses progress across the five action areas of the RAPID Framework, including reaching every child, assessing learning levels, prioritising fundamentals, and supporting instructional efficiency and well-being.

With this year’s update, FLAT provides stronger visibility into where policy efforts are gaining traction — and where momentum is slowing.

Key findings from 2025

The results show encouraging signs of progress alongside significant gaps that must be addressed:

• Only 1 in 10 countries have shown measurable progress in foundational learning since 2024
• 7 in 10 countries now use learning assessment data to inform education policies
• Structured pedagogy — a proven, cost-effective intervention — is now scaled nationwide in almost half of all countries, up from 24% in 2023
• While the uptake of evidence-based approaches is growing, the pace of reform remains too slow to ensure that all children are learning the basics.

Why it matters

Foundational skills such as reading, writing and numeracy are the building blocks for all future learning. When children do not acquire these basics early on, they struggle to progress in school and risk being left behind later in life.
FLAT helps ministries, donors, and partners keep foundational learning at the centre of decision-making. By highlighting what works and where focus is needed, it strengthens accountability and helps align investments with real classroom impact.

The road ahead: turning insights into change

The message from FLAT 2025 is clear: progress is possible — but scaling effective interventions is essential.

Governments and partners are encouraged to:

• Expand teacher support and training
• Ensure assessment data informs classroom practices
• Provide textbooks and structured teaching tools to every school
• Prioritise catch-up approaches for children falling behind

At the Hempel Foundation, we remain committed to supporting governments and education systems to accelerate gains and help more children succeed.

Explore the new report

FLAT 2025 offers detailed, country-by-country insights to guide action where it is needed most.

Read the full FLAT 2025 report and explore global findings