How Speed Schools in Ethiopia and Uganda align with the 10 Principles

• In Event: Accelerated education: Application of the accelerated education working group 10 principles to programming

Proposal

Geneva Global has been implementing Accelerated Education programs, (known as Speed Schools) in Ethiopia and Uganda since 2011 and has reached more than 160,000 students. Throughout the duration of the project, Geneva Global and its network of local implementing partners have continued to refine the model to respond to the needs of students, communities, teachers, administrators and Ministry officials in highly diverse contexts. Across these adaptations, Geneva Global has recognized the critical importance of the ten principles outlined by the Accelerated Education Working Group in creating high-quality education programs that are adaptive, nuanced and effective. My presentation will be based on my work as a practitioner implementing an accelerated education program in the field and the successes and challenges we’ve seen over the course of the program. The presentation will include findings from an independent longitudinal research study, other independent and internal monitoring and evaluation.

In my presentation, I’ll focus how Speed Schools align with the ten principles and creates a highly flexible model that allows teachers to build on and adapt the curriculum to include relevant topics such as the SDGs, the environment and technological innovations within the context of the students’ home communities. Among other principles, my presentation will focus on:

Principle 2 – Curriculum, materials and pedagogy are genuinely accelerated, AE-suitable and use relevant language of instruction – In this portion of the presentation, I’ll look at the core focus on literacy and numeracy, which integrates other subjects through a holistic approach, weaving subjects such as science, art and social studies throughout the student-centered lessons, enabling the program to condense three years of primary education into one academic year.

Principle 3 – AE learning environment if inclusive, safe and learning-ready – In this portion of the presentation, I will discuss the challenges, successes and lessons learned around creating learning environments for students from all learning levels and for the those with a range of barriers that have prevented them from entering the formal school system

Principle 8 – Community is engaged and accountable – In this portion of the presentation, I’ll look at the corollary components of the classroom instruction, such as the mothers’ and caretakers’ self-help groups, where we work with the groups on building financial literacy, civic engagement skills and generally work to empower these groups and encourage their engagement in the education system.

Principle 10 – AEP is aligned with the national education system and relevant humanitarian architecture - In this portion of my presentation, I will use examples of how Geneva Global has worked closely with the National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) and Primary Teachers Colleges (PTC) in Uganda to design a curriculum specific to the needs of learners in Northern Uganda and how we have worked with Regional Education Bureaus (REB) in Ethiopia to adapt the Speed School curriculum for four different regions in Ethiopia.
These are examples of the broader framework of my presentation, which will use the Speed School programs in Ethiopia and Uganda as a tangible lens to understand the importance and efficacy of the ten Accelerated Education Principles.

Author

• Jessica Lowden, Geneva Global Inc