A New Chapter for the Accelerated Learning Team

We’re thrilled to share a major milestone with you: after five transformative years as a core part of the Zero Dropout Campaign, the Accelerated Learning Project (ALP) is taking its next bold step — becoming an independent initiative.

Originally born out of the Reading for Meaning campaign, ALP has evolved into a multi-phase programme that integrates the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, foundational literacy and numeracy support, and a growing network of community-based implementing partners. From innovating multilingual learning activities to adapting during the pandemic, and forging strong partnerships with TaRL Africa, this journey has been both dynamic and deeply impactful.

At the heart of this work is a powerful mission: to tackle one of South Africa’s most pressing education challenges. According to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), eight out of ten Grade 4 learnerscannot read for meaning. Without these foundational skills, many fall behind and are at greater risk of dropping out of school.

Over the years, ALP’s in-school and after-school programmes have helped thousands of learners catch up and thrive by reigniting a love for learning and building the basic skills needed to succeed.

Now, as an independent project, ALP is ready to expand its reach, deepen its impact, and continue building a national movement for accelerated learning in South Africa. This transition reflects our team’s growing expertise, our bold vision for the future, and our deep-rooted commitment to equity, innovation, and community partnership.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Zero Dropout Campaign for incubating this work, and we invite you to continue following our journey — as we uplift learners left behind and help them catch up, keep up, and go further than ever before.