Improving Foundational Numeracy Teaching in Ethiopia

Ethiopia, Wolaita Zone; 2025-2029; Gates Foundation

Supporting children’s foundational numeracy using a variety of active, participatory and play-based teaching methodologies, extra-curricular activities, and home-based learning. Co-designed with the Ministry of Education, this pilot will inform plans to scale up improved numeracy practices across the country.

The project aims to address critical early numeracy outcomes for students in grades 1 – 3, ensuring that they have grasped basic foundational skills before moving to more complex ones.

Key Facts

Key Activities

• Develop numeracy training materials and observation/monitoring tools.
• Develop the capacity of school leaders and government staff (the ‘middle tier’) to monitor, mentor and coach teachers. 
• Provide support to teachers to teach numeracy using a variety of active, participatory and play-based teaching methodologies to reach all children in the class. 
• Support to students through social and emotional learning (SEL) and catch-up tutorials.
• Support parents to help children with numeracy in the home and with their school homework (use of local materials / play in and around the home, visiting the market etc).
• System strengthening approach with embedded scaling pathways to expand beyond Wolaita zone.