Policies

Rehabilitation of formal schools

Context and Issue

Concern implemented an ECHO-funded Education in Emergencies program in Northern Syria from September 2018 to March 2020. This initiative aimed to provide children affected by the crisis in Syria with access to high-quality education within a secure learning setting. It supported formal and non-formal education (NFE) services, particularly in identifying and preparing out-of-school children for the transition to secure formal education.

Solution 

Formally, the program included rehabilitation of the 15 schools, intending to ensure that the environment provided to the students is safe for learning, and it also meets the international criteria for minimum standards to ensure child protection. Another core component of the program was to ensure the safety of the teaching staff. The program aimed to target 10,500 children and 360 teachers in formal schools.

Impact 

The non-formal education program assisted students in preparing through academic and social support, and more than 600 children were able to complete the course, with approximately 80% re-enrolled into formal schools. Formal school programming increased access to education for over 10,000 children through the rehabilitation of schools to ensure the safety of children and inclusivity of gender and disability.

Analysis

Interventions and programs in conflict settings have uncertainty and challenges in terms of implementation. So in terms of planning and design, there should be more dynamic aspects included that acknowledge the uncertainties.