Policies

Equitable Quality Primary Education For All Children

Country Context

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has endured prolonged conflict, poverty, and developmental challenges due to resource misallocation, governance issues, and weak accountability mechanisms. A significant portion of the population, approximately 59%, lives below the poverty line of $1.25 per day. Despite progress, particularly following years of conflict, social sectors remain underfunded, with education receiving only 13% of the national budget in 2013. A study conducted in 2012 revealed alarming figures, indicating that 7.4 million children aged 5-17 are out of school.

Solution

The project seeks to elevate learning standards and enhance school management, accountability, and monitoring in the DRC. Targeting 3.7 million six and seven-year-old out-of-school children, the project employs community mobilization, classroom construction and rehabilitation, and learning outcome improvement strategies. It addresses various barriers to education, particularly for girls and marginalized children. Funding supports the construction, rehabilitation, or extension of 400 primary classrooms to meet the high demand for learning spaces. Teacher training focuses on learner-centered methodologies to enhance learning outcomes, while partnerships with women's associations and local groups aim to mentor girls and promote their education. Strengthening school management and accountability involves training school leaders and management committees to ensure equitable access, retention, and quality education.

Impact and Analysis

The project surpassed its target for out-of-school children, marking its implementation successful. Innovative mechanisms for monitoring school attendance effectively alerted teachers and parents about absenteeism, improving retention rates. Community visits to households strengthened collaboration between parents and school management, while student clubs facilitated child participation in community initiatives and promoted the importance of education.

Analysis

Overall, the intervention empowered the children, particularly adolescents, to make informed decisions about their future and fostered friendships.