ICAN-ICAR 2025 Data available on the DataFirst data site
Image source: PAL Network
ICAN-ICAR 2025 data is available on DataFirst data site: Explore the Data, Build Your Skills, and Apply for a Research Fellowship
Researchers, policymakers, and education practitioners now have access to one of the largest publicly available datasets on foundational learning in the Global South. The PAL Network's 2025 International Common Assessments of Numeracy (ICAN) and Reading (ICAR) microdata are now publicly available through the DataFirst data site. The assessment directly measured foundational reading and numeracy skills among more than 89,000 children across 12 countries through nationally representative household surveys.
Open access to high-quality microdata is essential for advancing research and evidence-based policymaking. By making these data publicly available, researchers can examine learning outcomes in greater depth, explore inequalities across gender, age, location, and schooling status, and investigate the factors associated with stronger learning outcomes. Open data also supports transparency, replication, and the development of new insights that can inform education policy and practice.
To support researchers who are new to the dataset, AFLEARN has developed an Introduction to data analysis in R course using the ICAN-ICAR data. These materials provide practical guidance on accessing, managing, analysing, and visualising ICAN-ICAR data.
Access the ICAN-ICAR microdata | Access the AFLEARN training materials
PAL Network Research Fellowship 2026
Applications are now open for the PAL Network Research Fellowship Programme 2026. This year's fellowship cohort will focus specifically on analysis of ICAN and ICAR data. Applicants are expected to explore the publicly available microdata and submit a short research proposal based on questions they wish to investigate. The fellowship aims to generate new evidence on foundational learning and the factors that shape children's educational outcomes, including education financing, public expenditure, policy interventions, system performance, equity, and access to learning opportunities.
Researchers, graduate students, and early-career academics from across Africa and beyond are encouraged to apply.
We look forward to seeing how researchers use these data to generate new evidence and contribute to improving foundational learning outcomes for children around the world.