Scaling up accelerating learning models for out-of-school children
According to UNESCO, over 97 million children in Africa are out of school, and 52 million are girls, and this number continues to grow with the rising demand for education. Still, these millions of children face an uncertain future as their economic and social prospects become daunting2. In addition, Africa is struggling to grow economically, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to profound economic impacts on the continent. World Bank Out-of-School Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa study highlighted gender disparities in education, disasters, migration, armed conflict, extreme poverty, child labour, teenage pregnancies, and early and forced child marriages as hindering Africa’s growth.
“The evidence generated in the Back2School project will be scaled up in the three target countries and the rest of Africa to ensure our meaningful and deliberate contribution to reducing the 52 million out-of-school girls in Africa. ” Melizsa Mugyenyi, CEO, Graça Machel Trust
The Graça Machel Trust has partnered with the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF), the Diocese of Musoma, and the Pan African Research Services (PARS) to conduct Back2School research, which has been funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). In addition, it supports the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange to generate evidence supporting scaling up accelerated learning models for out of school children to facilitate the reintegration of out-of-school rural girls in Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. These three countries have been identified among the many countries in Africa with disproportionately high levels of Out Of School Children, mainly rural girls, and it is in the interest of the Trust’s contribution towards reducing the 52 million Out-Of-School- Girls (OOSG) in Africa and towards the achievement of SDG #4, Aspiration #6 of Agenda 2040, and the AU Agenda 2063.
Overview of the Graça Machel Trust Back2School Research Scaling Project
To mark the first phase of the research project, 24th February 2022, the Trust held a virtual launch to reflect on the education status in Africa and called on partners to make concerted efforts into investing in accelerated learning programmes for out-of-school children to ensure no child is left behind. The event was graced by Her Excellency Professor Sarah Mbi Enow Anyang Agbor, Vice Board Chair for FAWE Africa and former African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology who emphasised the plight of OOSC and its impact on Africa’s socio-economic development. In her remarks, Professor Agbor said, “The direct correlation between education and the development of Africa necessitates the urgency towards systems strengthening in education. Increased financing for equitable access to quality education, education opportunities for out of school children who cannot enrol in formal education systems; and increased investment in continuous teacher professional development programmes, especially in STEM subjects.”
“When we invest in education for all children, we are making a sustainable investment for the continent. Therefore, I call upon all key stakeholders to rally behind the Graça Machel Trust and its partners throughout the life cycle of this noble initiative” – Professor Sarah Mbi Enow Anyang Agbor.
The launch was focused on raising awareness of the Back2School Research Project and soliciting buy-in and support from partners. The event attracted subject experts from the Ministries of Education, Research Partners and civil society organisations from seven African countries, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa and Uganda. Honourable Moushira Khattab, Special Rapporteur on Education for the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of Child, Dr Sam Ngaruiya, State Department of Early Learning and Basic Education Kenya, Dr Alemayehu Hailu, Ethiopia Country Director and Regional Strategic Advisor for The Luminos Fund engaged in a panel discussion which provided a unique perspective of how the research can be successful. The experts were joined by the research partners Reverend Bishop Michael Msonganzila of Diocese of Musoma Tanzania, Ms Susan Kahinga Chege, Research Director for the Pan Research Services (PARS) and Dena Lomofsky, Managing Member and Senior Consultant Southern Hemisphere.
On 31st March 2022, ACPF and Luminos Fund hosted a Stakeholder Consultation meeting to launch the project in Ethiopia. This provided a unique opportunity for stakeholders to meet at a national and sub-national level and was attended by the Ministry of Education and development partners who run accelerated learning programs attended. The panel spotlighted the status of out-of-school children and policy frameworks and strategies implemented in accelerated learning programmes in Ethiopia and shared some key progress areas, lessons and challenges that can be learnt for the future programme.
ACPF Back2School Project Launch, 31 March 2022
Reference
http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/new-methodology-shows-258-million-children- adolescents-and-youth-are-out-school.pdf.
Inoue et al., Out-of-School Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Policy Perspective, Washington: World Bank Group., 2015, p.1.
https://sdg.uis.unesco.org/category/out-of-school-children-and-youth/.
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.