UNHCR improved the quality of education in collaboration with other partners. To reduce the student classroom ratio, 3 additional classroom blocks, sex segregated WASH facilities and menstrual hygiene management room construction commenced in Shimelba, Adi Harush and Mai Aini refugee camps, funded by UNICEF, through PCA with the Norwegian Refugee Council.
In an effort to continue education amid the COVID-19 pandemic, distribution of reading packs, work sheets and social media applications were used and distributed to primary and secondary students to strengthen remote learning. Similarly, solar radio devices were distributed to primary school students to assist in attending radio lessons broadcasted by the Regional Education Bureau and recorded lessons. Furthermore, 170 students from low-income households were supported with cash assistance from Education Cannot Wait, to increase student retention and ensure their access to remote learning activities.
A comprehensive assessment was undertaken to understand the critical gaps of school WASH facilities that would need to be address to in order to prevent COVID-19 transmission upon the reopening of schools in the refugee camps of Tigray.
Afar refugee camps resumed their teaching and learning activities, following the Government’s announcement to open schools based on the protocols set by the Ministry of Education, while education services in Tigray were interrupted by the conflict. Grade 8 students have also taken regional primary leaving certificate examination for secondary education.
With regard to attendance, a total of 16,868 refugee students and pupils enrolled in the 2019/20 schooling year both in Tigray and Afar as follows: 4,169 in early childhood care and development centers, 11,585 in primary, 1,114 in secondary schools and 292 students in tertiary education.