PAL Network

Employees 11-50

The People’s Action for Learning (PAL) Network is a south-south partnership comprised of 15 member organizations across South Asia, Africa, and Central America, dedicated to improving children’s foundational learning outcomes. PAL Network conducts citizen-led assessments to evaluate children’s basic reading and numeracy skills and mobilizes local communities and stakeholders to take action based on this data. Through their work, they aim to contribute to improving equitable, inclusive, and quality education for all.

Mission and Vision

Mission: To generate robust evidence through assessment and action, and to inform, influence, and improve children’s learning outcomes.

Vision: A world where every child has the foundation for lifelong learning, enabling them to reach their full potential.

Core Focus Areas

The PAL Network’s efforts are guided by a four-pillar strategy (2020-2023) designed to improve foundational learning for children. The pillars are:

1. Assessment

PAL Network conducts oral, one-on-one assessments with children in their homes to measure basic reading and numeracy skills. This approach generates data that provides robust evidence on learning outcomes, offering a clear picture of the educational needs and progress of children.

2. Action

The network partners with governments and non-state actors to implement evidence-based programs aimed at improving learning outcomes. By using assessment data, they drive targeted interventions and community-based solutions that enhance children’s learning experiences.

3. Research

The PAL Network leverages data from their assessments and action programs to conduct research that provides new insights into learning contexts, challenges, and opportunities. This research informs the design of interventions and contributes to a deeper understanding of the educational landscape in member countries.

4. Advocacy

Using evidence and data, the PAL Network engages in advocacy efforts to promote equitable, inclusive, and quality education for all. They use their assessments to track and report progress toward educational goals, aligning with global education targets such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.

The International Common Assessment of Numeracy (ICAN)

One of the PAL Network’s key initiatives is the International Common Assessment of Numeracy (ICAN). Launched across 13 countries, ICAN is an open-source assessment tool available in 11 languages that provides international comparability of results aligned with SDG 4.1.1 (a), which focuses on ensuring all children achieve proficiency in numeracy and literacy.

Objectives of ICAN:

To demonstrate the feasibility of using a common assessment framework across diverse country contexts.
To generate reliable data on foundational learning to address key questions on education in the Global South.

ICAN has shown that a unified tool can be applied in varied educational settings and that it can effectively highlight the gaps and opportunities in foundational numeracy among children.

Contribution to Global Data and SDGs

As a partner of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, PAL Network aims to expand its efforts in large-scale citizen-generated data collection. The goal is to make significant contributions to global data portals like the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and offer a civil society perspective on progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The PAL Network’s work in collecting and analyzing learning data provides valuable insights that can be used for policy development, program implementation, and advocacy to advance educational equity and quality on a global scale.

Connect with PAL Network

To stay informed about the PAL Network’s work, initiatives, and updates on their efforts to improve learning outcomes, follow them on their digital platforms:

Official Website: Find information on PAL Network’s work, resources, and impact.
LinkedIn: Engage with their professional community for insights and discussions.
Facebook: Join their community for news, stories, and events.
Instagram: Visual updates on PAL Network’s programs and fieldwork.

FAQs

1. What does the PAL Network do?
The PAL Network is dedicated to assessing and improving children’s foundational learning outcomes, primarily in basic reading and numeracy, through citizen-led assessments, community-led actions, research, and advocacy.

2. What is the focus of the PAL Network’s assessments?
PAL Network focuses on oral one-on-one assessments conducted in households to gather evidence on children’s reading and numeracy skills. This data is used to understand learning gaps and drive interventions for improved educational outcomes.

3. How does the PAL Network contribute to global education goals?
By aligning their work with SDG 4 and conducting assessments like ICAN, the PAL Network provides data and insights that contribute to global efforts to improve educational access, equity, and quality.

4. What is the International Common Assessment of Numeracy (ICAN)?
ICAN is an open-source assessment tool developed by the PAL Network to measure numeracy skills across 13 countries. It enables international comparability of data and helps track progress toward SDG 4.1.1 (a).

5. How can organizations and individuals get involved with the PAL Network?
Organizations and individuals interested in contributing to or learning more about the PAL Network’s work can visit their official website or connect through their social media channels to stay informed and engage with their initiatives.