The Advancing Innovative Methods to Promote Learning (AIM4Learning) Program is a significant initiative aimed at addressing the learning crisis in Eastern and Southern Africa. With funding of $1.54 billion from the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the program seeks to improve education quality using modern innovations and technologies while expanding school enrollment.
In Comoros, AIM4Learning operates under the Strengthening Education for Better Education Outcomes (REACH) initiative. This comprehensive project aims to enhance equitable access and improve learning outcomes in pre-primary and primary education. It also focuses on improving education quality and ensuring equal opportunities for all students. The project has received over $23.32 million from IDA and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, World Bank Country Director for Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, and Seychelles, highlighted the urgency of this initiative: “With 87% of Comorian 10-year-olds unable to read a simple text, there's an urgent need to enhance educational opportunities. This project provides resources to improve teaching quality and primary education completion rates, ensuring all children reach their full potential.”
The project involves several key components:
1) Implementing policies to improve teaching quality through national curriculum reform focused on foundational learning.
2) Transforming school environments by providing resilient infrastructure, digital learning centers, and community hubs.
3) Building capacity for sustainable sector reform by strengthening institutional planning and workforce management.
REACH will benefit all public schools in Comoros, impacting approximately 136,469 students—half of whom are girls—and nearly 4,000 teachers, with more than a third being women.
The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, supports low-income countries with grants and low-interest loans aimed at boosting economic growth and reducing poverty. Since its inception, IDA has provided $552 billion to 115 countries.