Learning Poverty Is a Global Challenge. The Solution Begins at Home.

In 2022, the World Bank estimated that 7 in 10 children in low- and middle-income countries could not read and understand a simple text by age 10—a crisis known as global learning poverty.

But learning poverty is more than a reading problem. It reflects gaps in the foundational skills children need to learn and thrive.

The first 1,000 days are critical for development, while the next 2,000 days build upon that foundation, shaping language, confidence, curiosity, and readiness to learn.

Think of education as a ladder: the early years establish its first and most important rungs.

When these foundations are weak or missing, every step becomes harder, and schools face a greater challenge in closing the gaps.

Mothers, alongside fathers and other caregivers, play a vital role in building these foundations through everyday interactions—talking, reading, singing, playing, and nurturing.

Empowering mothers as their children’s first teachers is therefore an essential part of addressing learning poverty.

While many factors contribute to this global challenge, one of the most important places to begin is at home.

We Help Reduce Learning Poverty by Equipping Mothers as their
Children’s First and Most Important Teachers

Source: The State of Global Learning Poverty 2022 Update by the World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, USAID, and partner organizations.