How can we make quality learning opportunities more accessible, while improving outcomes for all learners?
Challenge Overview
The world faces persistent and intersecting gaps in learning and educational opportunities. Globally, 250 million children have no access to formal learning, and too many learners who are in school are not gaining the knowledge and skills needed for their futures. Only half of primary schools globally have disability-adapted infrastructure, and there is not adequate global financing for accessible education. Foundational and durable skills development—reasoning and social-emotional alongside literacy and numeracy—is least available to poorer communities. Technology in education can help solve key challenges—especially those related to universal access and efficiency—but innovations must be centered on the needs of communities and enable relevant learning outcomes for learners. While technology is not a replacement for human interaction, it can offer new assistive devices, help cross language barriers, and support educators, caregivers, and mentors in creating more personalized learning experiences. Deploying high-impact educational ideas at scale can also benefit from technology through networks and efficiencies, even as the end goal remains learner success. MIT Solve seeks exceptional solutions that leverage technology to improve learning outcomes for all, with a particular interest for 2025 in solutions that:
- Increase access to quality learning experiences and materials, especially for those living in emergency and conflict-affected areas or with limited internet.
- Improve engagement and enable better learning outcomes for those with disabilities and learning differences, while benefiting all learners.
- Provide the skills that people need to thrive in a complex world, from problem-solving to AI literacy, with adequate training and support for educators.
