Africa – Efekta launches English language programme
Summary
Efekta & Pharo Foundation: Advancing English Proficiency Across East Africa: Efekta, the AI‑powered language learning division of Education First (EF), has launched a one‑year English language development program across Somaliland, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Kenya. In partnership with the Pharo Foundation, the initiative aims to strengthen English proficiency among teachers and secondary school students, improving long‑term educational outcomes and workforce readiness.
Across East Africa, English proficiency is increasingly essential for academic progression, employment, and participation in global economic opportunities. Yet many schools face persistent gaps in teacher English competency, limited access to high‑quality language learning resources, and a lack of data to guide professional development.
Why Teachers First?
Efekta’s Chief Academic Officer, Chris McCormick, emphasises that teacher proficiency has a multiplier effect:
“We’re trying to upskill a population of the workforce, which will then have that multiplier effect of upskilling the school students as well.”
By equipping teachers with stronger English skills, the programme strengthens the entire learning ecosystem.
The Pharo Foundation, which focuses on expanding access to quality education and economic opportunity across East Africa, described the collaboration as a significant step toward improving learning outcomes in the region. The program is expected to expand further as Efekta continues to scale its AI‑powered education solutions globally.
Solution
Efekta and the Pharo Foundation have introduced a scalable, AI‑driven language learning program designed to build capacity from the ground up.
The key components include:
- Teacher‑first upskilling: All Pharo primary and secondary teachers now have access to Efekta’s adaptive English learning platform.
- Student rollout: Secondary students in Somaliland and Ethiopia will gain access in the next phase.
- Data‑driven insights: School leaders receive evidence‑based reporting on teacher proficiency and development needs.
- AI‑powered personalisation: Learners follow tailored pathways that adjust to their pace, level, and goals.
Impact
The Africa initiative builds on Efekta’s successful deployment in Paraná, Brazil, where:
- 750,000 students used the same AI platform
- Students achieved a 32% improvement on the state’s standardised English test over two years
These results demonstrate the platform’s ability to deliver measurable, system‑wide improvement at scale.
System‑wide teacher upskilling at scale
The programme’s first measurable impact is the full inclusion of all Pharo Foundation primary and secondary teachers across Somaliland, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Kenya.
This is significant because:
- Teachers are the most influential factor in student learning outcomes.
- Many East African school systems lack structured, data‑driven English proficiency assessments.
- Efekta’s platform provides continuous diagnostics, enabling school leaders to identify gaps and target professional development.
By giving every teacher access to an AI‑powered learning system, the programme is creating the first large-scale, standardised English proficiency baseline across Pharo schools.
The second phase of the programme gives secondary students in Somaliland and Ethiopia access to the same adaptive platform.
Expected impacts include:
- Personalised learning pathways for students with varying proficiency levels
- Increased exposure to English outside the classroom
- Improved readiness for national exams and international opportunities
- More equitable access to high‑quality language learning tools
Although student rollout in Rwanda and Kenya has not yet been announced, the teacher‑first approach ensures that when students do gain access, they will be supported by more proficient educators.
Efekta also supports more than 3,000 global companies with English training and assessment tools. Many learners use the EF SET exam to benchmark their skills before investing in high‑stakes tests for university admissions or professional certification.
Read more about Efekta’s international work here:
