Exploration of Government Adoption of Speed School, an Accelerated Education Program, perspectives from Ethiopia and Uganda

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

Geneva Global has implemented an accelerated education program, known as Speed School in Ethiopia since 2011 and in Uganda since 2016. The program targets overage, out-of-school students who are between the ages of eight and 14 years old who have never attended formal school. Speed School condenses the first three years of primary school into one ten-month program aimed at equipping students with the skills to renter the formal school system at grade 4. In each specific context, Geneva Global works with the local education authorities on the design of the program, ensuring that the curriculum is modeled on the national curriculum and imparts the same skills. As evidenced by a longitudinal study conducted in Ethiopia, the program is highly effective at integrating children back into the formal school system with a transition rate above 90%. Because of the proven efficacy of the program, Geneva Global is working towards government adoption of the Speed School model in both Ethiopia and Uganda. In Ethiopia, this means that government began implementing its own Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) classes beginning in 2017 with 32 classes. As of the 2021/22 school year, government was covering the costs of nearly half of all Speed School classes. At the same time, Geneva Global has been working with the School Improvement (SIP) Directorate to introduce the student-centered, activity-based Speed School pedagogy into the mainstream classroom, beginning with trainings that reached teachers in 1,406 schools. In 2021, the Ministry of Education created a dedicated Speed School Unit, which has worked closely with Geneva Global to create a comprehensive toolkit to guide the implementation of accelerated learning classes in Ethiopia.
Samuel and Yoseph will discuss the evolution of the government adoption in Ethiopia, the challenges and success in the context of work both pre-pandemic and over the last two years.
In Uganda, the government adoption of the Speed School model has been a guiding principle since the inception of the program in 2016. From the start of the program, representative from the Primary Teacher Training Colleges (PTCs) have been key partners, going to Ethiopia to observe the program there and leading teacher trainings in Uganda. Geneva Global has also worked closely with National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) to review and validate the accelerated education curriculum in Uganda. At the beginning of 2020, the plan was for local districts in the Northern region to implement the Speed School program, taking responsibility to train and oversee over 60 percent of all classes and Self-Help Groups.
Rebecca and Dr. Lusambu will discuss the evolution of the government adoption in Ethiopia, the challenges and success in the context of work both pre-pandemic and over the last two years.

Sub Unit

• Africa SIG

Chair

• Ellen Carney, Geneva Global

Individual Presentations

• The Ethiopia Perspective - Samuel Wollie, Geneva Global; Yoseph Abera Abera, Federal Ministry of Education

• Discussion on Government Adoption - Ellen Carney, Geneva Global