Despite rising global school enrollment, millions of children continue to advance through school without mastering foundational skills, leaving an entire generation unprepared to learn, earn, and thrive.

In many systems, overcrowded classrooms, under-supported teachers, language barriers, conflict, and economic pressures on families make consistent learning difficult to sustain.

Learning gaps widen over time, limiting educational progress and economic mobility.

Incremental improvements within existing systems have not kept pace with demographic change, disruption, or the demands of modern economies.

Foundational learning is the gateway to all future opportunities. We can measure this most acutely in this region.

• Despite expanded access to education, many learning systems in the Global South still prioritize time in classrooms over mastery.
• In sub-Saharan Africa 9 in 10 children cannot read simple text by age 10, despite a majority completing four years of primary school.
• By 2050, one in three of the world’s children will live in Africa, placing foundational learning at the center of future workforce growth and global economic stability.
• In 2021, only 1 in 5 children in second or third grade demonstrated foundational reading skills on par with their level of attendance.

By generating validated evidence of what works at scale, the prize can accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and help inform the next phase of global learning targets ahead of the UN’s 2029 review cycle.

The Accelerate Learning XPRIZE will seek to redesign learning around mastery rather than time spent in the classroom: diagnosing learning needs in real time, adapting instruction to individual learners, and measuring progress continuously.

We plan to see solutions that blend technology, pedagogy, and human-centered design—often in unexpected ways.

These may include hybrid learning models, adaptive tools, community-driven approaches, or new uses of AI and data.

We expect children will achieve literacy and numeracy faster, at lower cost, and at scale in real-world conditions.

The Accelerate Learning XPRIZE aims to prove that foundational mastery can be achieved early, equitably, and at scale—transforming learning systems worldwide.

• Reach nearly one million children across Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia
• Reduce time to mastery from four years to one year
• Catalyze solutions governments and systems can adopt beyond the prize lifecycle
• Shift the global standard from school access to learning outcomes
• Unlock lifelong opportunity for children, families, and communities

We welcome innovators from around the world to compete, and encourage competitors in a low- to middle-income country in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia especially.

We want teams spanning education, technology, cognitive science, AI, behavioral science, and community-based learning—ranging from startups and nonprofits to research institutions and social enterprises, with deep local trust.

• Hybrid NGO–tech organizations with proven field operations
• Teacher training and structured pedagogy organizations
• EdTech companies with validated learning outcomes 
• Adaptive/personalized learning technology teams
• University or research lab spinouts with real-world pilots

XPRIZE welcomes funding from individuals and corporate entities seeking to sponsor this initiative.

If you are interested, we encourage you to contact us and help play a part in bringing equity to worldwide learning.