Learning can be fun and easy

Context

In recent years, children’s access to quality education in Bulgaria has been increasingly hindered by poverty, disability, social exclusion, and discrimination. Over 150,000 children aged 5 to 16 remain out of school, and approximately 15,000 drop out of primary and lower secondary education each year. Even among those enrolled, learning outcomes are low: the 2019 OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) found that more than 50% of 15-year-olds were functionally illiterate. Stark disparities also persist: only 40% of Roma adolescents are enrolled in upper secondary education compared to 83% of their non-Roma peers. Additionally, 78% of youth with disabilities are neither in education, employment, nor training, highlighting systemic challenges to inclusion and opportunity.

Solution

In partnership with Bulgaria’s Ministry of Education and Science and the educational platform ucha.se, UNICEF co-developed and piloted an online individualized learning initiative targeting children and adolescents. The model combines diagnostic screening tools with fun, interactive, self-paced tutoring resources tailored to each learner’s needs. The diagnostic tool assesses students across four difficulty levels and aligns with national education standards, using visuals and audio to ensure accessibility. Based on test results, the system identifies learning gaps and generates personalized, gamified learning programs featuring engaging video lessons and exercises, often narrated by public figures, to motivate learners. The platform enables progress tracking and aims to help children catch up through enjoyable, gamified learning experiences.

With an initial investment of US $75,000 (2015–2018), the initiative validated its approach through pilot testing in reading and math and expanded to cover all core subjects in primary grades. The approach has effectively been scaled up to a national program for all grades from 1 through 12. The national rollout was supported by the Ministry of Education and public school funding, allowing widespread, free access. The ucha.se platform is one of the options available to public primary and lower secondary schools as part of the national funding for technology-based catch-up programs.

Impact

Pilot testing of the individualized learning platform in Bulgaria showed promising short-term gains: a 36–41% increase in math scores and an 18–21% increase in reading scores within one month. Following scale-up, over 119,500 students across Grades 1–12 accessed the catch-up resources, with 56% of users being girls. Of these, 104,173 are children in primary education, 14,828 are adolescents in lower secondary education, and 516 are in upper secondary.

While these early results are encouraging, long-term learning outcomes should be tracked to ensure efficiency and impact. Continued evaluations are essential to assess sustained progress, cost-effectiveness, and the platform’s broader contribution to reducing dropout and improving equity.

Analysis

The individualized online learning initiative in Bulgaria demonstrates strong scalability, having expanded from a pilot to a national program covering Grades 1-12 using an adaptive, technology-based education platform. Key enablers of scale include alignment with national curriculum standards, integration into public school funding, and co-creation with a motivated private sector partner, ensuring both quality and sustainability. The platform’s gamified design, low-cost implementation, and capacity for remote, self-paced learning make it broadly applicable in other contexts facing learning loss or equity gaps.

However, access remains uneven: students outside the public school system or ineligible for government funding must pay subscription fees, potentially excluding the most marginalized. Additionally, while the model supports independent learning, it may be less effective for children with significant learning gaps who need tailored, in-person support. Future iterations must address digital access disparities and expand inclusive features for learners with disabilities. Replication in other countries would require strong government buy-in, adaptive content, and partnerships across sectors.