SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Institutions: Ministry of Education
The World Bank’s latest report, co-authored by leading experts, synthesizes research from over 120 studies to address the global literacy crisis: 70% of children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) cannot read and understand simple text. The central finding is that children do not learn to read naturally and must be taught through explicit, evidence-based instruction.
The report’s comprehensive framework reveals the path to effective reading instruction:
Global Evidence and Crisis Magnitude: The failure to achieve foundational literacy leads to enormous economic costs, estimated at over $10 trillion annually (UNESCO). It is the foundation of future success, as reading proficiency correlates strongly with reduced poverty, better health outcomes, and increased civic participation.
Components of Effective Instruction: The most effective approaches integrate instruction in six core skills: oral language, phonological awareness, systematic phonics, reading fluency, reading comprehension, and writing. Instruction must be explicit and systematic without leaving children to “figure it out on their own”.
Design and Implementation Strategy (The India Model): India’s NIPUN Bharat Mission is held up as a model for systemic reform, framing foundational learning as the bedrock of national progress. Its success is driven by five key elements, including strong political leadership (states lead implementation) and system-wide alignment through structured pedagogy (sequenced lesson plans, workbooks, and teacher coaching).
Policy Imperative: The report mandates a national commitment to effective reading instruction to reverse the literacy crisis and accelerate economic development.
This World Bank paper provides critical international validation for India’s NIPUN Bharat Mission, justifying the massive public investment in teacher support and high-quality instructional materials. The proven success of structured pedagogy in states like Uttar Pradesh (where the share of proficient Grade 3 students rose from 24% in 2022 to 34% in 2024) reinforces that this model must be sustained and deepened to ensure equitable, lasting gains across all states.
What is Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)?→ Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) refers to the basic, critical skills of reading with understanding, writing, and performing basic mathematical operations that a child must acquire by the end of Grade 3. The ability to read with comprehension is considered the foundation of all subsequent learning and a vital skill for human agency, freedom, and long-term socioeconomic development.
Follow the full news here: Effective Reading Instruction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: What the Evidence Shows (World Bank)