Many children sit in a classroom for years without learning to read a simple paragraph. This is not a small problem. The World Bank estimates that around 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a short, age-appropriate text. These numbers point to one root cause: weak early skills. Foundational Learning is the ability to read with understanding and do simple math by about age 8 or 9. Children who miss this step often fall behind in every other subject. What Are Foundational Literacy and Numeracy? Foundational literacy is the ability to decode words, read sentences smoothly, and understand what was read. Foundational numeracy is the ability to count, compare numbers, add, subtract, and solve simple everyday problems. Together, these are the building blocks of all later learning. A child who cannot read well in Grade 3 cannot easily read a science chapter in Grade 6. How NGO Courses Work Many families and schools look for foundation lear...