Making Up for Missed Time: Roho's Story

An ECW-funded speed school programme in Ethiopia, delivered by UNICEF, is getting out-of-school children back to learning

By Education Cannot Wait

February 22^nd, 2022

Adapted story from the field. Special contribution by UNICEF Ethiopia (Original)

“Everyone should go to school; even our parents.” ~Roho

Thirteen-year-old Roho understands the importance of a quality education. While she now attends the Ifaa Primary School in Ethiopia, she has had to overcome many obstacles to fulfill her fundamental right to education. Her family was forcibly displaced when she was young and, although they have since returned, financial struggles kept her out of the classroom.

With her father abandoning them, Roho’s mother single-handedly raised her and her eight siblings. Being the sole breadwinner of the household, she was unable to cover education-related expenses for them – which included the cost of uniforms and school supplies.

As they struggled to make ends meet, Roho had to drop out of school to help her mother with chores around the house and work in the field. Only one of her brothers was able to attend school, but this was only possible because their uncle was covering his educational costs.

Roho in front of her community’s school. © UNICEF Ethiopia/2021/Eyerusalem Yitna Tekaligne

Going back to school

Today, Roho is enrolled in a Speed School Programme, thanks to Education Cannot Wait (ECW)-supported interventions by UNICEF and Geneva Global Ethiopia. The schools where this programme is offered provide accelerated learning support for out-of-school children, ages 9 through 14. In just ten months, students cover the first three years of the Ethiopian government's primary school curriculum, enabling them to catch up on years of lost learning.

Roho's friends introduced the Speed School Programme to her as they were already enrolled in a school offering it in their community. It can be difficult for children and adolescents to dive back into education when the time commitment needed to catch up is so large, but when Roho found out that good performers could quickly complete three grade levels, she was immediately interested.

The school feeding programme, which is included, was also an attraction. Through a grant from ECW, she was able to enrol in the programme along with her younger sister. They now attend classes regularly, enjoying the learning opportunities provided to them.

Students pose in front of another ECW funded school in the Amhara Region. © UNICEF/ 2021 / Nahom Tesfaye

Benefits of a Holistic Education

Satisfied with the programme’s student-centred teaching methodology, Roho appreciates being back in the classroom where she can interact with classmates and openly express her views. The programme offers her the time to play, learn, discuss and have fun with her friends.

“I am happy I decided to continue with my education. I will never drop out of school. I am now preparing to sit for the examinations that will help me join the formal programme in the next academic year.”

In her studies, Roho is learning about the alphabet, numbers, and how to read and write. Although her favourite subject is the local language Afan Oromo, she performs well in all classes.

“My writing, reading and mathematics have highly improved. I attentively follow my teacher’s advice and instructions. I regularly do my classwork and assignments, and I read textbooks and supplementary reading materials.”

Emebet Getasew, a 17-year-old student who attended Guntir Primary School. © UNICEF Ethiopia/2021/ Nahom Tesfaye

About the Programme

The Speed School Programme is led by UNICEF and the Regional Education Bureau, and implemented in partnership with Imagine One Day and Geneva Global Ethiopia. Activities are funded by ECW as part of the Fund’s Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) in Ethiopia. The Speed School Programme includes awareness-raising activities and engages community members through dialogues on the value of education. Additionally, students are provided school materials, school bags, uniforms and school meals. The programme uses participatory methods of teaching to enhance learning effectiveness and produce desirable outcomes.

The ECW-supported MYRP in Ethiopia, which began in 2020 and expanded off the Fund’s Initial Investment in the country, aims to support hundreds of thousands of crisis-affected children and adolescents with access to a safe, quality, inclusive, holistic education. In addition to providing the accelerated learning programmes, funding contributes to the construction of temporary learning spaces and new schools, along with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) stations. Teachers receive training to expand their capacity, girls are supported with menstrual hygiene management (MHM) kits, school feeding programmes are established and campaigns are launched in communities to increase support for children with disabilities. In addition, ECW further increased its support with a First Emergency Response (FER) launched in 2021 to provide educational continuity for those impacted by the conflict in the Tigray region.

To read more about the MYRP in Ethiopia, read Emebet’s inspiring story about returning back to school after it was destroyed by conflict here.

Kidist Mekoyet, 8, from Guntir Primary School aspires to be a teacher. © UNICEF Ethiopia/2021/ Nahom Tesfaye

Looking forward

Roho still has a long way to go in her learning journey, and it will be another eight years before she graduates from high school. However, she is determined to continue her education despite all the challenges.

Her dream is to become an engineer and contribute to her family’s future wellbeing, ensuring that the next generation can go to school and stay there from the start.

Teachers like Meseret Abera Tesfu provide essential support to get students on track. © UNICEF/ 2021 / Nahom Tesfaye

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