Our Program
All children deserve joyful, foundational learning.
The Luminos program is a free accelerated learning program that helps vulnerable and out-of-school children catch up to grade level, master foundational skills, and prepare for lifelong learning.
We implement our program through community-based organizations and partner with governments to adopt and scale the Luminos Method in government classrooms.
The Luminos Program
In one school year, Luminos enables vulnerable and out-of-school children ages 8-14 to read, write, and do math—covering the first three grades of school. Our students learn how to learn through a joyful, activity-based curriculum grounded in the science of reading and rooted in local language and culture. Proven by over 30 independent evaluations, the Luminos model is among the most rigorously validated in the sector: our students go on to complete primary school at twice the rate of their peers and are happier, more confident, and have higher aspirations even six years after the program.
The Luminos Fund is currently working in Ethiopia, Ghana, Lebanon, and Liberia.
In Ghana Luminos student pratice Celestine and Dora share flashcards during a literacy lesson. (Photo: Michael Stulman/Luminos Fund)
In Liberia, Luminos student Francess participates in a joyful, engaging classroom lesson. (Photo: Michael Stulman/Luminos Fund)
Luminos students in Ethiopia have fun during an outdoor activity. (Photo: Michael Stulman/Luminos Fund)
Luminos student Diana reads a passage from her student book aloud. (Photo: Obeng Baah for the Luminos Fund)
Luminos students in Liberia practice reading and writing during a classroom lesson. (Photo: Michael Stulman/Luminos Fund)
A playful math lesson captures students’ attention as they pass a soccer ball. (Photo: Michael Stulman/Luminos Fund)
Luminos student Fayo participates in the “fill in the missing letter” activity on the chalkboard during an English lesson, adding the letter “W.” (Photo: Mara Chan/Luminos Fund)
%
of Luminos students advance into government schools after completing the program
Luminos students read up to nine times faster than their peers
Luminos students are twice as likely as their peers to complete primary school
Student Sintayehu inside his government classroom that uses the Luminos Method. “I’m proud that I can read, count, add, and subtract numbers. Before, I couldn’t read or write anything,” says Sintayehu. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)
Mr. Flate Lamiso, Education Office Head for the Hula district in Sidama, Ethiopia, helps oversee the government’s adoption of the Luminos Method with structured pedagogy. “Student learning outcomes have significantly improved, especially in literacy and numeracy. During our supervision, we observed that students who previously couldn’t read at all can now read and write,” says Mr. Lamiso. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)
Kinkino is a teacher in Luminos’ government adoption program with structured pedagogy in Sidama, Ethiopia. “Before, my teaching was teacher-centered with little interaction,” shares Kinkino. “The Teacher’s Guide has transformed my daily teaching by helping me be more creative with methods and activities. It has changed the way I teach, making my lessons more engaging and student-centered.” (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)
Teacher Kinkino checks on students as they work in a group during a literacy lesson, writing on a slate board. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)
Luminos staff and ministry officials from the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, Sidama Regional Education Bureau, and the National Evaluation and Assessment Services collaborate during a workshop to scale the Luminos Method’s structured pedagogy approach in the Sidama region. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)
Dr. Kiros Guesh, Head of Tigray’s Regional Education Bureau with Luminos Ethiopia Country Manger, Hassen Ahmed Assen, during a launch workshop to bring Luminos’ structured pedagogy approach to government classes in Tigray. (Photo: Nahom Ayalew/Tigray Development Association)
Student Enuka smiles during a lesson in her government classroom, which uses the Luminos Method. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund)
Partnering with Governments
Luminos supports ministries of education to deliver joyful, effective foundational learning programs. We strengthen education systems by sharing evidence-based best-practices on how students learn and what makes teaching effective.
We partner with governments to integrate these practices and teaching methods into their national education systems and policies, enabling them to scale and sustain impact. As capacity grows, responsibility increasingly shifts to government partners, ensuring long-term ownership and continuity.
Partnerships take many forms, from leading comprehensive teacher training sessions to developing and revising national curricula and more.
Government Adoption in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is home to our oldest and deepest government partnership. Since 2018, the Ethiopian Ministry of Education has adopted the Luminos Method as a national strategy for supporting out-of-school children, resulting in accelerated learning programs in 13 of Ethiopia’s 14 regions.
More recently, at the request of Regional Education Bureaus, Luminos has enhanced this model by introducing a structured pedagogy approach. Teachers receive detailed lesson plans, training, and ongoing supervision and coaching—combining evidence-based literacy and numeracy instruction with joyful, student-centered learning. The results are remarkable. Learning outcomes have soared: students achieve 4x higher reading scores than their peers in conventional Grade 2 classrooms. Teachers gain new skills and confidence in their role, and experience joy and pride in their students’ progress.
During the 2025-26 school year, Luminos’ structured pedagogy model expanded to 950 government accelerated learning classrooms across Ethiopia’s Sidama and Tigray regions, reaching 37,084 students.
“The Luminos Fund has stood by us throughout the most difficult times. Their support was not limited to delivering the Luminos program and accelerated learning program through its implementing partners in the intervention areas. It has also played a vital role in strengthening our understanding and capacity to implement the accelerated learning program across the entire Tigray region.”
Dr. Kiros Guesh, Head of the Tigray Regional Education Bureau in Ethiopia
“Our government adoption program is truly special. Unlike many education programs that rely heavily 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. Most importantly, it has the potential to drive lasting change across the education sector.”
Dr. Alemayehu (Alex) Hailu Gebre, Luminos Senior Director of Programs, Ethiopia
“The strength of Luminos is the phonics. Their approach to reading compared to our regular conventional school is different. Even with numeracy, their classes are really participatory and student-centered. So, learning can take place effectively there. I appreciate the work of Luminos and the partnership we’ve started.”
Thomas Clark, Director of Alternative Basic Education, Ministry of Education, Liberia
“The Luminos difference is in the methodology; the teaching, the delivery of the lessons is different. I’ve had a chance to assess the students, and I have seen that they are achieving higher results. The students are happy. Because they play and sing…there’s a joyful learning approach.”
Mr. Gebre Asefa, Atsbi District Education Head in Tigray, Ethiopia
“It’s a good thing to have Luminos coming on board to partner with us in this great endeavor of providing education to all the children living in The Gambia. We value the partnership, and we look forward to a stronger, strengthened relationship and collaboration so that we’ll be able to achieve our goals.”
Honorable Former Minister Claudiana A. Cole
Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, The Gambia
“The rate at which Luminos students are performing is exceptional… I want to applaud Luminos Fund for the tremendous work being done in improving results in education in Liberia.”
Former Minister Tarnue Marwolo Bongolee
Former Assistant Minister for Student Personnel Services, Liberia
“Student outcomes have noticeably improved. For instance, government students in our accelerated learning program excel in reading compared to formal classroom students in higher grades. The structured pedagogy has had a significant impact on their academic progress.”
Mr. Tafese Dassa, Adult and Non-Formal Education Directorate Expert, Sidama Regional Education Bureau, Ethiopia
“I have always been inspired by programs that give hope to the less fortunate and vulnerable children of Liberia. The idea that a child in the most challenged parts of the country, who had never had the opportunity to learn the alphabet, can learn to read and write over the course of 10 months through the Luminos program — that was mind-blowing”
Abba G. Karnga Jr., Assistant Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, Ministry of Education, Liberia
Lastest Blogs on Government Partnership
New Impact Results Show Structured Pedagogy Is Improving Literacy at Scale in Ethiopia
In Sidama, Ethiopia, Luminos scaled a structured pedagogy program fivefold. In Tigray, it introduced the model for the first time. Luminos' newest impact report, published for International Literacy Day, details the results from all 950 classrooms across both regions...
Unlocking the Light of Learning for Liberia’s Youth
International Youth Day’s 2026 theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” recognizes that young people everywhere share the same hopes, even as the paths to reach them vary widely. For many, that path starts with something foundational: the ability to read, write, and do basic math. Without those skills, the doors to further education, employment, and opportunity stay closed—regardless of how much a young person wants to walk through them.
That is the premise behind the Youth Educational Empowerment Program (YEEP!), a joint initiative of the Luminos Fund and Liberia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports: that strong literacy and numeracy skills unlock opportunity for out-of-school youth.
Five Issues from FLEX 2026 Shaping Foundational Learning
What does it take to move foundational learning from commitment to action, and to do it at scale?
That question sits at the center of the foundational learning agenda across Africa and beyond. It came into sharp focus at the 2026 Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX) in Lilongwe, Malawi, where education leaders, government representatives, funders, researchers, and practitioners spoke openly about what is working, what still needs work, and what governments need from their partners.
Step Inside a Luminos Classroom
Explore elements of the Luminos program through the interactive illustration below! Hover over the numbers to learn more about our program.
Serving the Most Vulnerable
Luminos serves vulnerable and out-of-school children aged 8-14, including both girls and boys in relatively equal numbers. We reach the most marginalized communities with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, where 1 in 5 children is out of school.
Joyful, Activity-Based Learning
Lessons are joyful, inclusive, engaging, and interactive, incorporating local learning materials, games, songs, and stories throughout the day.
Small Class Sizes
With 25-30 students per class, Luminos classrooms are small in contrast to regional norms of 50-60.
Engaging Families
Parents play an important role in their child’s learning journey. Luminos invites parents into our classrooms and organizes monthly meetings so they can share in the joy of their children’s progress.
Foundational Learning
The Luminos program focuses on building foundational reading, writing, and math skills through a structured pedagogy emphasizing phonics.
Intensive, Accelerated Timeline
The Luminos program typically runs five days a week for 10 months, covering grades 1-3.
Meeting Students Where They Are
Teachers are equipped with simple assessment tools to track and respond to their students’ learning levels, ensuring all students are making good progress.
Community Teachers
Luminos trains local, high-potential young adults to become community teachers and provides regular feedback and coaching throughout the year.
Community Partners
Luminos partners with community-based organizations to co-create and co-implement our programs.
Data-Driven
Through weekly student assessments, skilled classroom observation, and external evaluations, Luminos continuously tracks learning progress and provides additional support as needed.
Government Partners
Luminos partners with ministries of education to strengthen education systems and build capacity to deliver our program at scale.
Transition
Over 90% of Luminos students advance into local government schools, joining their peers.
Child Protection and Safeguarding
At Luminos, safeguarding students’ well-being is our top priority. Not only is it a fundamental right of all children, but it also helps them to learn effectively. Luminos has a dedicated Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy which all staff, partners, teachers, and consultants are required to review and sign. The policy delineates the protocols we have put in place to prevent and address physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and/or exploitation of our students. It also details our internal reporting and disciplinary action processes for child abuse, provides guidance on identifying and managing risks to children, and underscores our expectation that all children are treated with respect, regardless of their identity, gender, racial background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, abilities, and other sources of diversity.
In all Luminos program locations, staff and teachers receive child protection and safeguarding training created by local and international specialists.
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The Luminos Fund is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt charitable organization registered in the United States (EIN 36-4817073).
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