Policies

Bridging Tomorrow

Context: 

The aftermath of the November 2010 election in western Côte d’Ivoire has severely impacted access to education, stemming from political and inter-ethnic conflicts. This violence resulted in the internal displacement of an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 individuals. By November 2011, around 140,000 students were confirmed as drop-outs for the 2010-2011 school year, and at the crisis's peak, one million children were out of school, with 800,000 missing four to six months of schooling. Additionally, older children who hadn't previously attended school struggled to integrate into the formal education system.

Solution:

Implemented in collaboration with EAC, The Norwegian Refugee Council is executing the Bridging Tomorrow Project in Côte d’Ivoire to address these challenges. The project aimed to reintegrate vulnerable out-of-school children (OOSC) into formal education by offering them a one-year accelerated program. Focused on communities in the Guémon and Cavally regions severely affected by post-election turmoil, the project involves close collaboration with local communities and schools to identify and enroll OOSC, recruit teachers, and facilitate their smooth transition into the formal education system. These bridging classes, outlined in the government's action plan, serve as a proven method to integrate OOSC into schools, particularly emphasizing achieving gender parity. Mobilization campaigns and post-bridging class monitoring of OOSC reintegration into school are integral components of the project.

Impact:

The Bridging Tomorrow Project has yielded overall satisfactory results, surpassing the indicator for reaching out-of-school children by 130%. The project has facilitated durable solutions by reintegrating over-age children into the formal school system, primarily through an emergency education package allowing them to follow a one-year accelerated curriculum, equivalent to two years of primary school, designed for children aged 9-14.

Analysis

This project's success lies in its tailored approach to addressing the specific needs of out-of-school children in conflict-affected areas. By providing an accelerated curriculum and focusing on community engagement and gender equity, the project has effectively reintegrated vulnerable children into the formal education system. Moving forward, sustaining these efforts and ensuring continued support for OOSC reintegration will be essential for the long-term success and impact of similar initiatives in conflict-affected regions.