2026 Course: Mastering Data Interpretation and Communication
The third one-week residential course will be held at the University of Cape Town from 4 to 8 May 2026. This upcoming one-week residential course focuses on maximising the impact of foundational learning data.
Using the data we have: Tracking Foundational Learning for Better Advocacy and Action
In a continent where many children complete primary school without acquiring basic literacy and numeracy skills, effective tracking of foundational learning continues to be an urgent necessity.
My First ADEA Triennale: Reflections from Accra
Learning, leadership, and a missed fugu
Upcoming courses
2026 Course: Applied Item Response Theory for Policy and Research
Applying and Interpreting IRT Using Large-Scale Education Assessment Data
11–15 May 2026 | Cape Town, South Africa
2026 Course: Item Response Theory Literacy
Building Psychometric Literacy for Education and Policy in Africa. 13-17 April 2026, Online
2026 Course: Mastering Data Interpretation and Communication
The third one-week residential course will be held at the University of Cape Town from 4 to 8 May 2026. This upcoming one-week residential course focuses on maximising the impact of foundational learning data.
Research
Paper: The Limits of a “Great Buy”: What Rigorous Evidence Reveals about Teaching at the Right Level
Targeting teaching instruction by learning level rather than grade is an instructional approach that assesses students’ current skills, groups them accordingly, and targets instruction to their actual learning needs.
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Blog
IRT analysis – a valuable tool, but only when appropriately applied
It is probably true to say that fewer than 1% of teachers have even a basic understanding of item response theory (IRT), yet this statistical theory is widely used to monitor the quality of schooling.
Are Textbooks Really a Bad Buy?
In its 2023 report, the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel (GEEAP) classified textbooks as a “bad buy”; however, the real story sits in the fine print.
My First ADEA Triennale: Reflections from Accra
Learning, leadership, and a missed fugu
Building Capacity for Educational Change
The hub’s goal is to improve learning outcomes for children across the continent by supporting the effective use of foundational learning data for evidence-based advocacy and policy making.
We aim to:
- Create an African hub of foundational learning data and expertise in methods, measurement, data quality and comparability.
- Empower African organizations and ministries to utilize such data for evidence-based advocacy and policymaking.
Support an African research agenda by expanding and capacitating the group of researchers working on foundational learning.
Latest dataset
Early Grade Reading Study Data
We are excited to announce that all waves of data from the Early Grade Reading Studies (EGRS) conducted by the Department of Basic Education in South Africa are now available on the DataFirst portal.
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News
SurveyCTO Course
Five full days of hands-on surveying brought participants together in Cape Town to build both foundational and advanced skills in SurveyCTO.
SurveyCTO Training for Early-Grade Assessments
Building Capacity to Implement EGRA & EGMA Digitally
Rescuing USAID Education Data
On 7 August 2025, we co-hosted a data rescue event with RDAP and the ICPSR. More than 100 volunteers joined the hackathon, working collectively to prepare files for public release
AFLEARN's Foundational Learning Data Management and Analysis Course
A diverse group representing 13 African countries gathered to strengthen their skills in managing and analysing foundational learning data and build lasting connections.
Our mission
Enhance quality and capacity throughout the data life cycle,
from collection to impact.