Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB)

Despite global efforts to expand access to education, millions of children in low-resource settings remain excluded from engaging in hands-on learning experiences due to a lack of cost-effective, technology-free solutions. Traditional instruction often fails to foster deep learning or build 21st-century skills, particularly where digital infrastructure is limited. There is an urgent need for scalable, experiential learning models that work without internet or devices, and that empower children through meaningful, active participation in their own learning.

The Internet-Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB) is a curated bank of 550+ open-source, project- and play-based learning resources for children aged 3–13. These resources are aligned with national curricula and designed to be cost-free, engaging, and student-led. They promote experiential and hands-on learning across literacy, numeracy, science, social studies, SEL, physical education, and the arts. IFERB also includes specialised resources such as math games, Arabic storybooks, multi-subject learning packages, and an Activity Bank for children with disabilities. All materials are technology-free once downloaded, adaptable to different learning levels, and available in 14 underserved languages. This makes the Bank itself a flexible, foundational learning toolkit, especially in low-resource environments. The IFERB website includes an integrated AI-powered chatbot (FERBY).

IFERB aims to be more than just a content repository, instead offering a scalable learning solution that has been implemented in 11 countries with 18 partners across a wide variety of settings. The IFERB solution refers to how the content is used: through delivery models tailored to each context. These include classroom-based instruction, community-based learning, phone-supported home learning, radio broadcasts, and use in refugee or emergency settings. It also includes technical guidance, training, and MEL framework tools that enable educators, governments, and partners to contextualise and use the resources effectively.

To date, IFERB has reached over 5.5 million children, with more than 70% of partners continuing implementation after pilot support. The Bank enhances not only student learning outcomes but also teacher practices, community engagement, and national policy alignment, creating both content innovation and a systems-level solution.

Projects:

• Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB)
• Piloting EAA Foundation's Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB)
• EAA Foundation's Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB) in Sudan
• ZOCS and EAA Foundation's Internet Free Education Resource Bank
• Ek Tara and EAA Foundation's Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB)
• EAA Foundation's Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB) in Yemen
• Dignitas and EAA Foundations' Internet Free Education Resource Bank
• LAL and EAA Foundation's Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB)
• British Council Pakistan and EAA Foundation's Internet Free Education Resource Bank