Education Cannot Wait and UNICEF promote educational inclusion in Ecuador

In coordination with the Ministry of Education, the programme has helped over 3,321 children and adolescents to enter the education system.

By Education Cannot Wait

January 13^th, 2021

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Special contribution from UNICEF Ecuador ( View Original in Spanish )

Thanks to the support of Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and work carried out with the Ministry of Education Ecuador (MINEDUC) and implementing partners, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has developed actions to ensure that more children and adolescents have access to education in the Ecuadorian provinces of Azuay, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Imbabura, Manabí, Pichincha and Santo Domingo. The initiative, which began in 2019 in response to the refugee crisis, was adapted to the COVID-19 health emergency in 2020. In this crisis, it is even more critical to prevent more children from being forced to leave school, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

To that end, 16,601 people were provided with information on access to the education system, 3,321 children and adolescents were helped to enter the education system, and 3,260 grants were awarded for uniforms, school supplies, educational kits, tablets, and connectivity packages. In addition to this, 1,226 students received teaching support at their school level.

Winder Cisneros, 9 years-old, is a beneficiary of ECW's program. He has also attended the HIAS organization's Child-Friendly Spaces. Photo © UNICEF / ECU / 2020 / Carrera

All children and adolescents, without exception, have the right to receive a high-quality education in an environment free of violence and discrimination. To promote a healthy, peaceful environment in educational facilities, 1,420 teachers and MINEDUC staff members were informed and trained on issues related to educational inclusion, emergency education and prevention of discrimination, xenophobia, and racism.

Together with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a ‘Toolkit for Inclusion in the Education Sector’ was created, including methods from ‘El Tesoro de Pazita,' by the Vicariato Apostólico de Esmeraldas programme, Nación de Paz; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) campaign, ‘Respiramos Inclusión’ (We Breathe Inclusion); the RET International initiative, ‘Comunidades Educativas Inclusivas’ (Inclusive Educational Communities), and the MINEDUC/Grupo FARO project, ‘Comunidades de Aprendizaje’ (Communities for Learning). 4,551 teachers and student counselors were trained in these methods, which will benefit 102,590 children and adolescents. With the support of the ECW fund, UNESCO also helped adapt the school curriculum to the health emergency and produce worksheets.

In addition, 545 MINEDUC employees have received training on Resolution 0025-2020, a key piece of legislation for educational inclusion that focuses on removing barriers to education access and ensuring that no one is excluded from the education system for failing to meet requirements.

Thanks to the funds received from ECW and the Danish Government, UNICEF has provided a total of 525 tablets and 3,939 SIM cards with data and calling plans to teachers, student counsellors, emotional support brigades, and professionals from education district's Inclusion Support Units, so that they can provide teaching and psycho-emotional support to students and their families. UNICEF also provided training on how to maintain adequate contact and created a Telephone Support Guide.

To support teachers, the programme has provided 3,051 teachers and student counselors with psycho-social support through workshops and sessions on emotional release, stress management, and grief.

Josmar Gabriel Araujo López (9) performs his tasks in the company of his mother, Jozeileth Felimar López Alejos, Jozeileth Felimar López Alejos (29). Photo © UNICEF/ECU/2020/Carrera

Jimena Costero (6), her brother Matías (5) and their mother Jhoana Delgado, receive advice from a RET officer on how to use their new tablet. Photo © UNICEF/ECU/2020/Arcos

Yaleska Mera (7) poses for a portrait with her school kit delivered by ECW with support from UNICEF. Photo © UNICEF / ECU / 2020 / Arcos.

Edwuadrs junto and his mother, Evelyn Gil, doing homework at home. Photo © UNICEF/ECU/2020/Carrer

To enable a safe return to the classroom, UNICEF, with the funds received from ECW and the Danish Government, assessed water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions in 50 educational institutions, and provided kits with basic sanitary supplies, reaching 66,160 children and adolescents and 2,661 teachers. UNICEF also improved sanitary infrastructure in four schools, installing 13 toilets, 14 water pumps, 50 portable sinks, and 12 tanks and cisterns.

UNICEF is supporting the Government of Ecuador in its response to this emergency, both to prevent virus transmission and to mitigate its collateral effects on children, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The commitment of all actors is required to fully guarantee children's rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ECW's "Story from the Field" series features the voices of our implementing partners, children, youth and the communities we support. These stories have only been lightly edited to reflect the authentic voice of these front-line partners in their field. The views expressed in this series do not necessarily reflect those of ECW, our Secretariat, donors, or UN member states.

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