Oromia Signs MoU with Luminos Fund, Launching Structured Pedagogy in Government Schools

Jul 24, 2026 | Luminos Fund | Ethiopia, Government Partnership, In the News

Ethiopia is home to the Luminos Fund’s largest and longest-running program. Since 2018, the Ethiopian Ministry of Education and regional education bureaus have partnered with Luminos to expand accelerated learning as a government-led strategy for supporting out-of-school children, reaching 233,915 children in government schools implementing the Luminos Method.

More recently, at the request of the Sidama Regional Education Bureau (REB), Luminos partnered with the region to strengthen this model by introducing a structured pedagogy approach: detailed lesson plans in local languages, teacher training, and ongoing supervision and coaching. In government classrooms, the structured pedagogy approach combines evidence-based literacy and numeracy instruction with joyful, student-centered learning, covering Grades 1 and 2 of primary school in just 10 months. The results are remarkable: students in these classrooms read at four times the rate of their peers in conventional Grade 2 classrooms.

Co-created with government from the start, the structured pedagogy model is designed to be locally led. The Tigray regional government has since adapted the model to its context for implementation in government primary schools.

In Oromia—Ethiopia’s largest and most populous region—Luminos and the regional government are now working together to bring structured pedagogy to children both in and out of school. The partnership will strengthen literacy instruction for Grade 1 students in government schools while also supporting vulnerable and out-of-school students through an accelerated learning program focused on foundational literacy and numeracy. Across both areas of work, children will benefit from the same core approach: clear daily lesson plans, trained and supported teachers, locally adapted materials, and joyful, evidence-based instruction designed to help students build strong foundational skills.

That partnership reached a formal milestone this month, when the Oromia REB and Luminos signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), launching a shared framework for government-led structured pedagogy programs across the region.

Dr. Tolla Barrisso, Head of the Oromia REB (at right), and Dr. Alemayehu Hailu Gebre, Luminos Senior Director of Programs (at left), sign the agreement formalizing the partnership to bring structured pedagogy into mainstream Grade 1 government classrooms while strengthening accelerated learning for children who are out of school. (Photo: Oromia Regional Education Bureau)

The Launch Workshop

The MoU signing kicked off a two-day launch workshop bringing together officials from the Ministry of Education, Oromia regional and district government representatives, Luminos, and community partners. On day two, participants jointly reviewed and validated the Teacher’s Guides or ‘Playbooks’.

Mr. Shemsedin, Oromia’s Director for Primary Education, traced how the partnership with Luminos evolved in his opening remarks. After seeing the results of the Luminos Method in other regions, the Oromia REB set out to extend structured pedagogy to more children across its education system.

The Teacher’s Guides are a product of this collaboration: developed jointly by Oromia government experts and Luminos’ team and customized to the region’s context.

Mr. Shemsedin was direct about what comes next: validating the materials is one milestone, not the finish line. Teacher training is the critical next step to ensure the structured pedagogy approach is implemented with fidelity in government classrooms.

The Journey Ahead

Government partnerships that outlast a single funding cycle are built deliberately from the beginning. Luminos’ approach in Ethiopia has been to co-create with government, so that government ownership is established from the outset.

Government partnerships that outlast a single funding cycle are built deliberately from the beginning.

From Sidama to Tigray and now Oromia, regional partners have adapted and led implementation of the structured pedagogy model, with Luminos providing technical support throughout. Dr. Bultossa Hirko, Deputy Head of the Oromia REB, spoke to that ownership directly in his remarks to Ministry officials and other guests at the workshop, addressing the learning crisis, the urgency of foundational learning, and the regional government’s commitment to making foundational learning a priority.

Luminos’ journey in Ethiopia is a powerful example of how collaboration, evidence, and strong government leadership can drive meaningful and sustainable change in education.

“Unlike many education programs that rely on external funding and are difficult to sustain, this approach is built to last. It is both innovative and impactful, designed from the start to grow within government systems.”

Dr. Alemayehu (Alex) Hailu Gebre, Luminos Senior Director of Programs, Ethiopia

Worknesh’s Story: Discovering the Joy of Learning in Ethiopia

Mar 24, 2026 | Mara Chan | Ethiopia, Luminos Method

Until recently, nine-year-old Worknesh was out of school—one of millions of children in Ethiopia denied a chance to learn.

After briefly attending first grade, she was unable to continue her education when her mother passed away. Instead, Worknesh stayed at home to care for her younger siblings and support her family.

“Playing with my friends and learning together makes me happy!”

Worknesh, Luminos student in Ethiopia

Today, as she walks across the rolling green hills of southern Ethiopia, collecting water for her family, Worknesh softly sings the alphabet song she learned in class—part of a government-run accelerated learning program using the Luminos Method, where children once out of school catch up quickly in joyful classrooms.

“I like learning because we learn through music!” Worknesh shares. “When we learn about letters, we sing songs, like the alphabet song. Playing with my friends and learning together makes me happy!”

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As part of her daily responsibilities at home, Worknesh collects water for her family—often singing the alphabet song she learned in school. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)

Worknesh’s classroom is vibrant with colorful learning materials decorating the walls. Here, Worknesh is learning to read, write, and do math for the first time. The classroom is part of a government-run accelerated learning program supported by the Luminos Fund. “I’m proud that I can now read letters because I couldn’t do it before,” shares Worknesh.

“I’m proud that I can now read letters because I couldn’t do it before.”

Worknesh, Luminos student in Ethiopia

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Worknesh studies outside her home. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)

The Luminos Method combines foundational reading, writing, and math instruction with joyful activities using local materials, songs, and games. Teachers receive a set of step-by-step, daily lesson plans, robust training, and ongoing coaching to ensure every child has the support they need to succeed.

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Worknesh walks to school. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)

As the school year progressed, Worknesh’s learning amazed her father, Endale. “I have seen Worknesh grow and develop a strong passion for education. I’ve noticed significant progress in her learning and determination,” he shares.

Worknesh is not alone in making significant learning gains in the classroom. Results from an external evaluation found that the Luminos Method had a huge impact on students’ reading, writing, and math skills. By the end of the ten-month program, students’ reading scores were four times higher than their peers in conventional Grade 2 classrooms in Sidama, according to official government data.

“My favorite activity is playing the flashcard jumping game,” says Worknesh. “We place flashcards on the ground, and when my friends call out the letters, I jump on the correct card. This game helps me see and remember the letters.” Worknesh also loves that her teacher uses music to help the class learn.

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Worknesh and her classmates have fun during an outdoor activity led by teacher Kinkino. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)

Where Worknesh particularly excels, however, is in math. “I help my friends in our group when they struggled to count numbers,” she shares proudly. Worknesh dreams of continuing her education after the program and becoming a school principal.

“Education is important because it helps us learn things we didn’t know before. It allows us to live a better life,” says Worknesh.

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Worknesh stands proudly outside her classroom. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)

“Education is important because it helps us learn things we didn’t know before. It allows us to live a better life.“

Worknesh, Luminos student in Ethiopia

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Worknesh with her father, Endale, and younger brother. Endale is a strong believer in the power of education and was excited at the opportunity to give his daughter a second chance at education: “Education is important because it allows children to gain knowledge and learn new skills. My farmland is small, and I hope that through education, Worknesh can graduate, support the family, and build a better future for herself and us.” (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)