Our approach

Since 2015, UNICEF has contributed to the national catch-up class programme for out-of-school children at the primary school level. The catch-up class programme has traditionally focused on providing children who have dropped out of primary school the opportunity to attend a two-month accelerated learning course during the summer holidays. The catch-up class intends to prepare these children to mainstream back into public primary school at the level where they dropped out or at the next grade level.

To date, this programme has been a success in terms improving access and retention for these students, but initial date from regions shows that it has been less successful in ensuring that the quality of their learning during and after catch-up classes. No systematically collected and analysed data exists to track the learning progress of this particularly vulnerable population of students, and COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of catch-up systems and improving learning even more.

The focus of the partnership between UNICEF Madagascar and the Hempel Foundation is to innovate on the current catch-up class model, strengthening aspects of the programme that have proven successful and experimenting new elements to improve areas that have not contributed to improved learning outcomes as intended.

Responding to the complex situations which are hindering boys and girls’ education opportunities in Madagascar and the multiple barriers to access quality learning outcomes, this partnership will aim to address access and retention (output 1), quality (output 2) and institutional-inclusiveness at school and parent-level barriers (output 3). By the end of the programme, it is intended that the three main outputs will contribute to the achievement of the following programme outcome:

“By 2023, more girls and boys in Madagascar, especially the most excluded, will be exposed to effective learning experiences, which will lead to the acquisition of the necessary competencies for an enriching life.”

Within the framework of the agreement with the Hempel Foundation, an estimated 47,000 children (50% girls) in 1,356 public primary schools in five regions will be targeted over the three-year programme period in partnership with central, regional and local departments, such as the Ministry of Education. Children in the five selected regions do not benefit from any other donor support for catch-up classes at the primary school level.

Our project will further impact 2,712 teachers (50% women), 1,356 local school management committees, and 108,000 students now benefitting from improved pedagogical methods from a trained teacher during the regular school year.

Where

1,356 schools in the regions of Anosy, Androy, Atsimo-Andrefana, Analanjirofo, and Boeny.

Christina Fleuron