Catch-up Education Programming

Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania

1 in 3 

children are out-of-school in countries affected by war and natural disasters.

(UNICEF 2018)

3.5 million

children of primary school age are not in school across the DRC.

(USAID 2019)

4%

Less than 4% of humanitarian funds are dedicated to education.

(GHA 2018)

230,000

refugees in Tanzania who are fleeing political violence and food insecurity in Burundi.

(OCHA 2018)

With support from the European Union, the GC-DWC is undertaking a four-year study on the efficacy of the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) “catch-up education” programs in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Quantitative data is being collected on large cohorts in each country and in-depth interviews undertaken with smaller samples of “high and low achievers.” This longitudinal study will provide much needed evidence on the extent to which emergency education can foster resilience in severely war-affected and uprooted children and adolescents.

Goals, Progress, and Impact

Catch-up education programs, such as the NRC’s accelerated education programs, fill an important gap for children and adolescents in crisis. Quality and inclusive education promotes resilience of refugees and the internally displaced as well as mitigates conflict, instability, and fragility.

Future data collection and analysis will explore relationships between school performance and other key variables. The NRC will use this information to better meet the holistic needs of learners, teachers, and families.

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