Leaders, Educators and Parents (LEAP): A Project for Education through Community Mobilization

Context and Issue

Over the past two decades, Ethiopia's education system has undergone significant strides under the country's associated sector development plan. According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ethiopia's primary enrollment has increased from 3.7 to 18.7 million students. However, despite this progress in access and quality, UNESCO UIS reported in 2015 that Ethiopia was home to as many as 2.2 million out-of-school children (OOSC) at the primary level. Furthermore, government statistics indicate that the primary completion rate is only 51.3 percent, with substantial variations between regions, where some areas have net enrollment rates far below the national average. Nonetheless, the Ethiopian Government remains committed to improving schooling. It has dedicated substantial shares of the national budget to education to ensure all children complete accessible, equitable, and quality primary education.

Solution

Leaders, Educators, and Parents (LEAP), a joint project by EAC and Imagine1day, was implemented in every primary school within seven target districts across Ethiopia's Oromia and Tigray regions: Alajide, Gasera, Goro, Harena Buluk, Kola Tambein, Tsegede, and Welkait. LEAP's overall goal was to contribute to increased access to equitable and quality primary education for children in these project locations through the enrollment and retention of 63,428 OOSC. In addition, LEAP aimed to:

Raise the primary school gross enrollment rate in project locations
Increase the proportion of school and district leaders with the capacity to lead OOSC enrollment and retention initiatives from 20 to 90 percent
Retain 92 percent of the project-enrolled OOSC in the seven target districts

Impact

The Imagine1Day Ethiopia project achieved and overachieved almost all the indicators, including OOSC enrollment by 47%. Specific achievements included:

Imagine1day schools utilized the community ritual of coffee ceremonies to engage community leaders and parents in discussions about OOSC issues. The conversations focused on OOSC identification, enrollment, retention strategies, and school improvement.
Trained school leaders, Parent-Teacher-Student Associations (PTSAs), teachers, influential community leaders, and female leaders actively participated in Back-to-School Campaigns, emphasizing the enrollment and retention of out-of-school children and improving the academic performance of the enrolled OOSC.
Educational materials were provided to orphans and vulnerable children in the seven targeted districts.
New schools were constructed, and classrooms were equipped with desks.
Training was provided for principals, teachers, and community members.
Sports kits were distributed to all schools.

Analysis

The Leaders, Educators, and Parents (LEAP) project exemplifies a comprehensive and community-driven approach to addressing the challenge of out-of-school children in Ethiopia. By implementing initiatives across seven target districts in the Oromia and Tigray regions, the project aimed to increase access to equitable and quality primary education, specifically focusing on enrolling and retaining OOSC.

The project's success in achieving and exceeding almost all the indicators, including a remarkable 47% overachievement in OOSC enrollment, highlights its effectiveness and the commitment of all stakeholders involved. Community rituals, such as coffee ceremonies, fostered a sense of ownership and engagement among community leaders and parents, ensuring that OOSC issues were discussed and addressed within the local context.

The active participation of trained school leaders, PTSAs, teachers, influential community leaders, and female leaders in Back-to-School Campaigns highlights the project's emphasis on capacity-building and community mobilization. By equipping these stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and skills, the project facilitated a grassroots movement to identify, enroll, and retain OOSC while also focusing on improving the academic performance of enrolled students.

Furthermore, providing educational materials, constructing new schools, and distributing desks and sports kits created a conducive learning environment and promoted a holistic approach to education. These interventions addressed physical infrastructure needs and supported students' overall well-being and development.

The LEAP project's achievements demonstrate the potential for successful collaboration between government, non-governmental organizations, and local communities in addressing educational challenges. By leveraging existing community structures and engaging stakeholders at all levels, the project fostered a sense of ownership and sustainability, ensuring that the impact extends beyond the project's duration.