ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR OOSC THROUGH THE SLP

Country Context:

Syria, amidst five years of conflict, faces a severe educational crisis, with millions of children out of school and a significant loss of educational infrastructure. The conflict has resulted in extensive displacement, both within Syria and to neighboring countries, exacerbating the situation. The economic impact of this crisis on Syria is immense.

Solution

The project, led by UNICEF USA and EAC, aims to enroll over 366,000 out-of-school Syrian children by implementing the Self-Learning Programme (SLP). This program provides a self-study curriculum aligned with the national syllabus and support services like psychosocial support, teacher training, and infrastructure rehabilitation. It operates through hubs in Syria and Turkey, focusing on reaching children directly affected by the conflict.

Impact

EAC's partnership with UNICEF throughout the project facilitated crucial discussions on out-of-school children and garnered government commitment to improving educational access. The project exceeded its initial OOSC enrollment target of 95,000, reaching 109% of its revised target. Noteworthy achievements include supporting the Ministry of Education in conducting an OOSC survey, mapping non-formal education pathways, revising the SLP and Curriculum B, and developing a child monitoring system. These initiatives, supported by EAC funding, enhance programming and pathways for addressing the needs of out-of-school children in Syria, ensuring a more holistic approach to education in the conflict-affected region.

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.