students served
teachers trained
total community members engaged
Luminos in The Gambia
In The Gambia, the Luminos Fund partnered with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to co-create an accelerated learning program for out-of-school children. Since launching in 2022, the program has reached 4,555 children with joyful, foundational learning through 2025.
Meet Fatoumatta, learning through the Luminos curriculum in The Gambia:
The Gambia at a Glance
The government of The Gambia has made significant efforts to improve access to education. However, the COVID-19 pandemic reversed much of the earlier progress and contributed to increased poverty in recent years. As of 2024, it is estimated that there are 104,900 primary-school-aged children out-of-school, a 24% increase from 2020. Beyond poverty, barriers to education in The Gambia include limited infrastructure, gender disparities, and child labor.
“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
Adama with her students Fanna, Fatoumatta, Babou, and Ancha (from left to right) inside their classroom, decorated with learning materials. (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
In our joyful, activity-based curriculum, students learn to read using Gambian stories that feature children just like them. (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
At 10 years old, Ancha is going to school for the first time, learning through the Luminos curriculum. “I like coming to school because I learn new things every day!” Ancha says. When Ancha grows up, she wants to be a teacher. (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
“We are helping both the children and the community,” says teacher Fatou. “There are certain children who have never been to school, and some of them have been to school but dropped out,” she explains. “Bringing all children back to school, back to class, and teaching them is important to me.” (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
Students in Fatou’s class raise their hands to answer a question. (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
Ousman breaks down a math problem for his students during class. (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
Student Fatoumata claps along during a song in class. (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
Students in The Gambia practice identifying letter sounds during class. (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
Classes follow a structured pedgagogy approach using teaching and learning materials developed by Luminos and endorsed by MoBSE. Here, student Ebrima completes an exercise in his student book. (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
Student Kaddy writes in her notebook during class. (Photo by Lena Nian for the Luminos Fund)
What We Do in The Gambia
At the request of The Gambian government, Luminos developed a new accelerated learning curriculum with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE). Under this partnership, Luminos produced over 1,600 pages of curriculum materials covering Grades 1–3 core subjects, which were formally approved following the Ministry’s validation process.
Luminos launched a pilot in the 2022-23 school year implementing the curriculum. Classes of 30 students ran five days a week using a joyful, phonics-based approach grounded in Gambian stories, songs, and games. This model enabled children ages 8–14 to advance several grade levels in one school year and transition into mainstream schools to continue their education. Through 2025, the program reached 4,555 children with joyful, foundational learning in the North Bank Region (NBR) and the Central River Region (CRR).
The program materials remain under the Ministry’s stewardship for continued use and integration within the national education system and will also be available for download on our website.
Reports & Evaluations
2024-25 The Gambia Endline Evaluation Report
(CRPD)
“Every child deserves to be given the opportunity to explore and realize their full potential through schooling. This is my conviction.”
Mr. Momodou Jeng
Director of Curriculum Research Evaluation and Development Directorate, MoBSE
Luminos Classroom Materials
The Luminos Fund, in partnership with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) in The Gambia, is proud to share our comprehensive suite of teaching and learning materials. These materials equip out-of-school, primary-aged children with strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills using evidence-based, structured pedagogy aligned with the national curriculum.
Organized into three ten-week phases, the materials enable learners to progress through the equivalent of three years of primary school in just ten months through daily instruction, continuous assessment, and targeted support. Each phase builds progressively—from early phonics and basic numeracy to independent reading, writing, and problem-solving—preparing students to transition into Grade 3 or 4 in government schools. The materials for each phase include a Teacher’s Guide, Student Book, Decodable Readers, and Read Aloud stories.
To download the materials, please fill out the form below.
Phase 1
Builds early foundational literacy and numeracy skills, including basic phonics, simple word blending, early writing, counting to 100, and basic addition and subtraction.
Phase 2
Deepens core reading, writing, and math understanding as learners master letter sounds, read and write simple sentences, work with numbers up to 1,000, and begin multiplication and shape recognition.
Phase 3
Prepares learners for independent reading, writing, and confident mathematical problem-solving with more complex texts, regrouping in addition and subtraction, word problems, and application of multiplication facts.
Classroom Materials
Latest news & stories from The Gambia
New Independent Evaluations Show Extraordinary Learning Gains in 2024–25 School Year
Around the world, millions of children are denied the chance to learn—not because they lack potential, but because crisis, poverty, or discrimination have pushed them to the margins of the education system. As The Luminos Method book reminds us, most breakthrough...
Fatou’s Footsteps: Thriving against the Odds in The Gambia
Fatou was out of school for several years, missing out on the foundational skills that every child deserves. Today, she is making up for lost time, proving that with the right support, every child—girl or boy—can thrive in school.
Why Culturally Relevant Stories Matter for Literacy
One of the most powerful moments in a Luminos classroom is when a child sees themself in a story – through a familiar name, cherished folk tale, or setting that mirrors their own community. These moments spark joy and connection, helping children develop a strong...
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