Accelerating Learning for Children in Developing Countries

An educational and training revolution is underway in many places in the world. It is based on recent discoveries about the neurobiology of learning and on psychological and educational research about school and classroom strategies that accelerate student achievement. This monograph draws together knowledge from both the educational and the development literature on accelerated learning for the benefit of development and education practitioners. The education literature reviewed includes writings from the effective schools movement and from groundbreaking work in accelerated/natural learning. Development literature reviewed includes summaries of successful accelerated programs, girls' education initiatives, and use of media and communications technology in addition to general writings on improving primary education in developing countries.

This report explains a number of principles and practices, and clarifies and extends these concepts into ideas that teacher educators, trainers, consultants, master teachers, and teachers can use to guide changes in their teaching. Factors influencing the acceleration of learning in the developing world context are considered within a systems-thinking approach and with an awareness of the need to adapt the accelerated learning approach to various cultural contexts. Strategies for measuring the success of accelerated learning programs are provided.