Policies

EDUCATION: MY RIGHT! MY FUTURE!

Country Context

Despite efforts by the South African government to implement policies aimed at alleviating poverty, educational inequality persists as a major issue within the country. Compared to neighboring countries, South Africa's educational outcomes are lagging. Attendance rates decrease as students advance in age, with an estimated 400,000 school-age children not attending classes. Barriers to education stemming from poverty-related factors such as hunger, inadequate nutrition, lack of basic amenities like electricity and sanitation, gender bias, rural residency, parental education levels, and refugee status collectively hinder access to education.

Solution

Recognizing the critical role of schools, families, and communities in supporting students, the Education: My Right! My Future! (EMRMF) initiative aimed to enhance the capacity of schools and communities to cater to the specific needs of out-of-school children (OOSC). Targeting primary school-age children who have either never been enrolled or have dropped out, EMRMF ensured to identify and enroll across Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West provinces over three years. The project employed diverse strategies, including advocacy campaigns to encourage school attendance, multi-sectoral collaboration, provision of school-based support, and assistance to families and caregivers. Additionally, the project team from MIET Africa conducted home visits to assess the needs of identified OOSC, develop tailored learner plans, and establish after-school clubs focusing on art, sports, and reading.

Impact 

The initiative, implemented by MIET Africa and Educate a Child (EAC) in partnership with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE), has yielded significant results. Targeting 30,000 OOSC across six education districts in four provinces, the project surpassed its enrollment goal, successfully registering 31,046 children, reflecting a 103.5% achievement rate. This achievement highlights the effectiveness of the project in addressing the pressing issue of out-of-school children and signifies a step towards reducing the educational disparities in South Africa.

Analysis

Replicating these intervention-specific contexts would require a deep understanding of the cultural sensitivities, and local-level stakeholders' involvement would increase the implementation efficiency of the projects.