From catch-ups to catching up: The journey of Accelerated Learning

In this episode of Drop-In Discussions, we sit down with Claudia Stanfield, Project Lead for the Accelerated Learning Project (ALP) at DGMT, to unpack the journey of accelerated learning and its close connection with the Zero Dropout Campaign.

Claudia takes us behind the work of ALP and the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, exploring what happens when learners are given the opportunity to learn at the level they’re actually at — rather than simply being expected to keep up with their grade.

We talk about the realities of learning gaps in South African classrooms, the impact of falling behind on learners’ confidence and identity, and the role that parents, schools, communities and technology can play in supporting children to catch up.

As ALP continues to grow across the country, Claudia also shares what the next phase of the programme could look like, what it will take to scale accelerated learning nationally, and how we can build education systems that ensure learners aren’t left behind.

Tune in for a conversation about learning, scale and the possibilities of helping every learner reach their potential.