Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10990-x

Remote phone-based targeted tutoring in five countries produced large, cost-effective learning gains during school closures, outperforming text messaging and working effectively when delivered by governments or non-governmental organizations to strengthen education resilience.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02700-4

Across five randomized trials in India, Kenya, Nepal, the Philippines and Uganda, weekly 20-minute mobile-phone-call tutorials produced large learning gains for primary-school children during school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments can keep children learning through societal shocks using this approach, which combines low-cost, high-access mobile-phone technology with high-quality tutoring targeted to each child’s learning level.

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