This project is one of the 2024-2025 WISE Prize for Education finalists.
Organization Background
Darsel is an innovative EdTech organization focused on addressing foundational learning gaps in mathematics, particularly in underserved communities. The organization emerged from recognizing the critical need to intervene early in students’ mathematical education, before learning gaps become insurmountable challenges in later grades.
To date, Darsel has demonstrated significant reach and impact:
- 264,000 students have been reached (as of July 2025)
- 269,000,000 math questions have been answered by students (as of July 2025)
This extensive reach demonstrates Darsel’s commitment to making quality mathematics education accessible to students who might otherwise fall behind in foundational numeracy skills.
The MVP: Design & Impact
Darsel is an AI-enabled, low-bandwidth EdTech solution that delivers personalized math practice through a bilingual (Arabic-English) chatbot, accessible via WhatsApp and other messaging platforms. With WISE Prize funding, Darsel shifted its focus from Grade 7 to Grade 4 numeracy, addressing early learning gaps before they widen.
Key features include:
- A question bank that covers over 640 curriculum-aligned numeracy skills
- Over 30 AI-generated videos to support learning
- Teacher dashboards to track student progress and guide instruction
- Bilingual support in Arabic and English
- Accessible through WhatsApp and other messaging platforms for maximum reach
- Low-bandwidth design suitable for underserved areas
Impact to date:
The pilot, conducted across 10 underserved public schools in Irbid and Wadi Al-Seer districts in Jordan, reached 320 students and yielded impressive results:
- +0.25 SD improvement in math scores, equivalent to 0.31 Learning-Adjusted Years of Schooling (LAYS)
- Students solved more than 607,000 math problems during the two-month pilot
- Teachers reported strong student engagement and interest
Future Prospects
Darsel has ambitious plans for scaling its impact:
- A national rollout in 2026 is being planned in partnership with the Ministry of Education in Jordan
- Ongoing refinements include offline functionality for even greater accessibility
- Expanded content coverage to support more grade levels and mathematical concepts
- Improved parental involvement tools to engage families in students’ mathematical learning
- Further development of AI capabilities to enhance personalization and learning support
Through these initiatives, Darsel aims to continue bridging the foundational numeracy gap and ensuring that all students, regardless of their background or location, have access to high-quality mathematics education.
Addressing WISE Prize for Education Challenges
Darsel addresses the following WISE Prize challenges:
- Artificial Intelligence in Education ☑️
- Teaching of Arabic Language
- Foundational Literacies ☑️
The solution directly addresses these challenges by using AI to provide personalized math education through WhatsApp, making it accessible to students in low-resource environments. This innovative approach not only leverages AI for learning but also explores new ways to build foundational numeracy skills.