FastTrack+, a Nigerian initiative developed by AREAi, has been named Africa’s representative among the six global finalists for the prestigious 2024-2025 WISE Prize for Education.
Competing for a $1 million award, FastTrack+ aims to address literacy and numeracy gaps in refugee camps across Western and Central Africa using innovative, offline digital tools.
FastTrack+ stood out for its use of self-assisted technology, including a digital pen with audio capabilities and multilingual instructional resources, which have shown promising results, with 80% of learners achieving basic literacy in pilot studies.
“The selection of FastTrack+ represents a pivotal moment for educational innovation in Africa,” said Dr. Stavros Yiannouka, CEO of WISE, who highlighted the impact of the solution in creating sustainable learning opportunities in challenging environments.
Over the next year, each finalist will receive a $125,000 conditional grant and capacity-building support from WISE and Dalberg Advisors to advance their projects.
The WISE Prize winner will be announced live at the 2025 WISE12 Summit, recognizing a solution with transformative potential for global education.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.